The prestigious all-women’s Barnard College laid off an eight-month pregnant custodian in a bid to skip out on paying her maternity leave while keeping a more junior male worker, according to a grievance from her union.
The dismissal allegedly violated a collective bargaining agreement, the union claims, and the expectant mother with two kids at home now has no income or healthcare coverage for herself or her imminently growing family, she said.
“How could an all-women’s college just not care?” said custodian Shakira Zahiruddin, 32, who also has two other children, aged 7 and 13. “I feel left alone and I am extremely worried for my kids moving forward.”
Zahiruddin was one of the 77 workers laid off this summer, according to an announcement from Barnard, which came only weeks after the college reached a settlement agreement over an antisemitism lawsuit.
“This action has particularly severe consequences because Ms. Zahiruddin is eight months pregnant,” a grievance filed by her union states, which claims the layoff violated her contract.
“She has made clear that she feels the College’s decision was driven by her pregnancy; specifically, to avoid honoring her maternity leave. In her own words, Shakira feels punished for being pregnant.”
Zahiruddin said Wednesday that she is “heartbroken” that a women’s college would treat a pregnant mother like this.
“You wouldn’t really expect that due to what they stand for,” she said. “I honestly don’t know what I am going to do.”
The school’s contract with the Transport Workers Union, who represents custodians and other workers at Barnard University, clearly states that layoffs must be based on seniority, the union claims.
But when the all-women’s school handed the expecting mom a pink-slip late last month, they skipped over a male worker who was hired nearly four months after Zahiruddin, according to a grievance filed with the school by the TWU.
“This is not a legitimate layoff,” the grievance states, “it is a deliberate attempt to erase a senior worker’s rights.”
When Zahiruddin was laid off, she was told by college officials to peruse the job board for a new position, effectively stripping her of her accumulated seniority, her benefits and her guaranteed maternity leave as a new hire, her grievance states.
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“That is discrimination, plain and simple,” the grievance says, “and it compounds the seniority violation with a direct attack on her rights as a pregnant worker.
“I think the cost savings are what this is all about,” said TWU Local 264 President Joseph Rose. “They are just looking at the monetary aspect.”
Zahiruddin should be fully reinstated with her seniority and benefits restored, as well as a guarantee for her maternity leave and back pay, according to the grievance.
“Its unfair and unjust,” Zahiruddin said Wednesday. “I honestly don’t know how i am going to pay my bills, I’m the sole provider for my children.”
Barnard did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
