The District of Columbia Employment Justice Center (EJC) was a left-of-center litigation organization that provided free legal representation to employees in order to increase the utilization of entitlement programs and pursue litigation against employers within the District of Columbia. 1 In 2017, EJC merged with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC), another advocacy group. 1
Prior to merging with WLC, EJC collected over $7 million from employers in Washington, D.C. through employment litigation. 1
Finances
In 2016, EJC received $613,210 in contributions2 and reported $154,867 in net assets. 3
In 2016, EJC received contributions from a number of left-of-center organizations, including :
- $103,500 from the District of Columbia Bar Association Foundation. 4
- $75,000 from the Marpat Foundation. 3
- $7,500 from the Greater Washington Community Foundation. 4
- $5,000 from The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) labor union. 4
- $5,000 from The Benjamin Fund. 5
EJC Workers’ Rights Clinic
EJC operated two free legal clinics in Washington, D.C. Together, the two clinics provided over 1,500 legal consultations every year in search of actionable cases to sue employers in Washington, D.C. and neighboring communities. After finding an actionable case, EJC would either take the case itself, refer the case to an EJC-affiliated pro-bono attorney, or even refer the case to a private employment law firm. 6
Employment Law and Entitlement Lobbying
Though structured as a litigation organization, EJC also engaged in political advocacy, often through lobbying the Washington, D.C. government to increase entitlement programs. 7
In 2016, EJC successfully advocated for the Fair Credit in Employment Amendment Act of 2016, a law that prevents employers from asking for or considering a prospective employee’s credit score in making a hiring determination. 7
In 2013, EJC successfully lobbied the Council of the District of Columbia, the city’s legislature, to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act and Earned Sick and Safe Leave Amendment Act of 2013. The act required automatic minimum wage increases every year to match the cost of goods as listed by the Washington, D.C. Consumer Price Index, taking the issue out of legislative control. 8 The act also required employers to allow employees to start accruing earned sick leave immediately, even if the employee did not stay with the company for a full year. 9
Black Lives Matter Statement
In 2016, EJC came out with a statement in support of the left-of-center Black Lives Matter movement, claiming that the United States is not a “post-racial” society and must collectively work towards advancing the rights of racial minority groups. 10
Leadership
Philip Fornaci was the executive director of EJC until 2017. After the 2017 merger with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC), Fornaci assumed the position of senior counsel with WLC. Fornaci is currently an attorney with the National Disability Rights Network.
References
- “About” Employment Justice Center. http://www.dcejc.org/about-ejc/
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed September 12, 2020. Part I, Line 12.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed September 12, 2020, Part I, Line 22.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed September 12, 2020. Schedule I. Part II.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed September 12, 2020. Part II.
- “About – Workers Rights Clinic” Employment Justice Center. http://www.dcejc.org/about-ejc/
- “Campaigns” Employment Justice Center. http://www.dcejc.org/campaigns/
- “DC Fair Credit in Employment Amendment Act Sent To Mayor For Approval” Employment Justice Center. http://www.dcejc.org/dc-fair-credit-in-employment-amendment-act-sent-to-mayor-for-approval/
- “DC Just Passed Great Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Days Bills” Employment Justice Center. http://www.dcejc.org/2013/12/18/dc-just-passed-great-minimum-wage-and-paid-sick-days-bills-whats-in-them/
- “Black Lives Matter: A Statement of Solidarity” Employment Justice Center. http://www.dcejc.org/2014/11/27/black-lives-matter-a-statement-of-solidarity/