News & Commentary

With the first round of voting in the controversial pension reform settlement set to conclude tomorrow, the ACLU of Rhode Island has announced plans to submit testimony at an anticipated “fairness hearing,” if one occurs, in order to raise concerns about the settlement’s opt-out voting process.

The ACLU of Rhode Island has urged the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH) to reexamine a proposed regulation that would force children out of day care and childcare providers out of work if they are not vaccinated for the flu, even if they are unvaccinated for medical reasons. In testimony submitted to the DOH, the ACLU called the regulation a “serious intrusion on the ability of individuals and families to make their own medical decisions.”

The RI ACLU expressed its support for a lawsuit filed by the SEIU today against a Department of Health regulation requiring thousands of health care workers, including volunteers and non-medical staff, to get a flu shot or else wear a mask if they have any contact with patients. In testimony previously submitted to the DOH, the ACLU pointed out that the requirement may actually do very little to promote patient health care, significantly undermines notions of informed consent, could erode the use of other and more effective infection control practices, and might even at some point adversely affect family caregivers. The RI ACLU also expressed its disappointment with the Department of Health's order this week requiring indefinite masking of all unvaccinated health care workers, regardless of evidence indicating the use of masks provides little protection for patients and may, in fact, exacerbate the spread of the virus.

The ACLU of Rhode Island is offering to the public a free 36-page booklet entitled “Your Rights to Workplace Privacy in Rhode Island.” As its title indicates, the booklet answers commonly-asked questions about employees’ privacy rights in the state.

The Rhode Island ACLU and CVS/pharmacy announced today the voluntary settlement of a complaint that challenged the company’s use of a pre-hire questionnaire that the ACLU claimed could have a discriminatory impact on people with certain mental impairments or disorders.

Responding to a complaint filed by the Rhode Island ACLU at the end of 2009, the R.I. Commission for Human Rights has issued a finding that there is “probable cause” to believe that a job application form used by CVS Pharmacy, Inc. for various customer service positions violates state anti-discrimination laws that bar employers from eliciting information that pertain to job applicants’ mental or physical disabilities.

The Rhode Island ACLU today announced the favorable settlement of a suit it filed against the City of Pawtucket in July, charging city officials with violating a state law that restricts random drug testing in the workplace.

The Rhode Island ACLU has today filed suit against the City of Pawtucket, charging city officials with blatantly violating a state law that restricts random drug testing in the workplace.

Two months after the R.I. Commission for Human Rights found “probable cause” to believe that Senesco Marine, a large ship construction and repair facility in North Kingstown, had engaged in activities that violated state anti-discrimination laws, the company has settled the discrimination complaint filed against it by the R.I. ACLU.  Under the settlement agreement announced today, Senesco agreed to revise its employment application form to remove language that the ACLU claimed unlawfully discriminated against job applicants with disabilities.  In addition, the company agreed to pay $4,000 in attorneys’ fees.