Since the founding of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) in 1985, and the National Institute for Workers’ Rights in 2008, our shared vision for working people has remained constant: a future in which all workers are treated with dignity and respect; workplaces are equitable, diverse, and inclusive; and the well-being of workers is a priority in business practices. Full civil rights and equality for women and people of color are essential to workplace equity.

As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion services will become unavailable to millions of workers across the country. By permitting states to interfere in the private medical decisions of those who are pregnant, the economic security and physical safety of all women are now at risk. This risk will be disproportionately borne by low-income workers and families, and by women of color.

Linda Correia, President of NELA and Institute board member stated: “Every worker must have the right to safety and bodily autonomy in the workplace and beyond. Nonetheless, six Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court voted to turn back the clock and take away the fundamental rights of more than half the people of our nation. NELA and the Institute are committed to mitigating the resulting harms to workers, and to allying with workers, their lawyers, and organizations who advocate for them, in the fight to reinstate the civil rights stolen today.”

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Founded in 2008, the National Institute for Workers’ Rights is the related charitable public interest organization of NELA. The Institute advances workers’ rights through research, thought leadership, and education for policymakers, advocates, and the public.

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) is the largest professional membership organization in the country composed of lawyers who represent workers in employment, labor, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA’s mission is to empower workers’ rights attorneys through legal training, promoting a fair judiciary, and advocating for laws and policies that level the playing field for workers. Find us at www.nela.org.