As residents of Pittsburgh and civil rights leaders from across the country, we are deeply disturbed by your attempt to dismantle long-standing federal anti-discrimination laws.

Your decision to legally challenge our nation’s equal opportunity regulations is an unprecedented and radical move that, should it prevail, would undo decades of widely accepted federal protections created to ensure equal employment in the workplace. We are alarmed and disappointed that you are urging a federal appeals court to invalidate the U.S. Department of Labor’s equal opportunity regulations that require federal contractors and subcontractors to provide information about their hiring practices of women and people of color.

Rather than abide by and celebrate regulations that level the playing field for working women and people of color, you’ve chosen to undermine them and by trying to rewrite the rules just for you, you could potentially rewrite or eliminate all together these rules for everyone in the nation. 

According to your own mission statement, you are committed to equal employment opportunity. “The UPMC is committed to affirmative action and to taking positive steps to eliminate barriers that may exist in EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) and in employment practices.“

http://www.upmc.com/careers/pages/equal-opportunity-policy.aspx

UPMC, you are either committed to equal employment opportunity and celebrating diversity in your workforce or you aren’t. These longstanding protections for workers in Pittsburgh and the country are now in jeopardy because of your legal actions.

We are calling on you to withdraw your suit immediately. American workers deserve better. And as a leading healthcare institution and so-called charity, you can do better.

Signed By:

Elected Officials:

State Representatives:
Rep. Jake Wheatley
19th District, Allegheny

Rep. Erin Molchaney
22nd District, Allegheny

Rep. Ed Gainey
24th District, Allegheny

Pittsburgh City Council:
Bruce Kraus, President
Daniel Lavelle
Darlene Harris
Natalia Rudiak
Deb Gross
Dan Gilman
Corey O'Conner

Allegheny County Council:
Amanda Green-Hawkins

Faith Leaders:
Reverend Glenn Grayson
Wesley center AME Zion Church

Reverend Rodney Lyde
Baptist Temple Church

Reverend Eric McIntosh
St. James Episcopal Church

Community Groups:

NAACP Pittsburgh Branch
Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network
Service Employees International Union
ACLU-PA Greater Pittsburgh Chapter
Women’s Law Project
Pennsylvania NOW

First Pittsburgh NOW Chapter
       East End Pittsburgh NOW Chapter
Squirrel Hill NOW Chapter
People for the American Way-PA
National Council of Jewish Women-PA
Black Law Student Association
University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Jasiri X