Urbana School District settles age discrimination lawsuit

URBANA SCHOOL DISTRICT SETTLES AGE DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT

The Urbana School District has reached a settlement of over $200,000 in an age discrimination lawsuit, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Background

• In 2018, teachers filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging age discrimination in salary increases.
• The district had capped salary increases for teachers aged 45 and above at 6%, while younger teachers could receive higher increases.
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits age-based discrimination in compensation for individuals aged 40 and above.

Pension Law Provision

Under Illinois pension law, any salary increase for teachers exceeding 6% requires a larger pension contribution to cover the increased pension cost. The district negotiated a provision with the teacher’s union to keep the 6% cap for teachers within 10 years of retirement eligibility, aiming to save money.

Impact on Teachers

Salary increases were tied to continuing education. However, Charles Koplinski, the teacher involved in the lawsuit, claimed that his hours of continuing education should have resulted in a salary increase of around 12%, if not for his age.

The provision also discouraged older teachers from coaching school sports or leading extracurricular activities, as these opportunities were given to younger teachers.

EEOC’s Response

Gregory Gochanour, the regional attorney for the EEOC’s Chicago District Office, emphasized that federal law prohibits differential treatment based on age, just as it does for gender, race, or national origin. He stated that this lawsuit should serve as a lesson to Illinois school districts.

Settlement Details

The settlement includes monetary compensation for 40 additional teachers who experienced wage losses between 2015 and 2020 due to the collective bargaining agreement provision. The district and the teacher’s union agreed to eliminate the provision for the 2020-21 school year.

SDGs and Age Discrimination

This case highlights the importance of addressing age discrimination in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 10 aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries, including discrimination based on age. By ensuring equal treatment and opportunities for all individuals, regardless of age, societies can work towards achieving sustainable development.

Response from Urbana School District

WCIA reached out to the Urbana School District for comment, but no response has been received at this time.

This is a developing story that will continue to be updated.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The issues highlighted in the article relate to age discrimination in employment and the impact on teachers’ salaries and work opportunities. SDG 8 aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. SDG 10 focuses on reducing inequalities within and among countries, including age-based discrimination.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

The article highlights age discrimination in salary increases for teachers, which goes against the principle of equal pay for work of equal value (Target 8.5). It also mentions the collective bargaining agreement provision that limited work opportunities for teachers over the age of 45, indicating the need to eliminate discriminatory practices (Target 10.3).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, to measure progress towards Target 8.5, the average hourly earnings of teachers in different age groups can be analyzed. For Target 10.3, the proportion of teachers reporting age-based discrimination or harassment can be considered.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: wcia.com

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