A federal court has granted an injunction to “permanently prevent” the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from retaliating against workers who report work-related injuries, the Department of Labor (DOL) said on July 16.
The DOL said it had obtained a consent judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on July 3, along with a landmark injunction that prevents the USPS from retaliating against workers across 59 locations in Washington state for reporting injuries.
The court’s decision followed the DOL’s investigation into the unlawful firing of three USPS probationary workers in East Vancouver, Seattle, and Tacoma who reported workplace injuries before their terminations.
The department filed a lawsuit after finding that the USPS violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s anti-retaliation provision.
“By issuing the broadest permanent anti-retaliation injunction to date, the U.S. District Court has recognized the U.S. Postal Service’s pattern of ignoring its own policies and unlawfully firing probationary workers who report injuries,” Regional Solicitor of Labor Marc Pilotin stated.
“The agency’s repeated and unlawful disregard of federal laws against employee retaliation has caused financial and emotional harm to workers and their families. This retaliatory conduct must stop at once,” he said.
The consent judgment also requires the USPS to implement measures to protect workers, including ensuring probationary employees who report workplace injuries have an equal opportunity to complete probation.
The agency must also provide its employees with specific notice and training relating to their rights when reporting work-related injuries and related medical restrictions.
“Immediate changes must be made to prevent these kinds of baseless, hurtful, and unlawful terminations,” Mr. Pilotin stated, adding that the DOL will continue to combat such retaliation against workers.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the USPS for comment.
The DOL has filed nine federal lawsuits against the USPS since 2020 involving probationary employees in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington who were fired after reporting injuries.
The department has argued that the USPS failed to adhere to its own probationary policies and procedures, such as timely evaluation of employees and completion of probationary reports.
The judge ruled that the USPS had “discriminated against and wrongfully terminated” the employee, who suffered a leg injury while unloading mail from a USPS truck. The agency fired the employee 11 days before the probationary period ended.
