It is a fight to level the playing field to be able to compete for jobs and careers on the basis of skills and make available apprentice training to all. In 1973 Al Percy launched a class action lawsuit to give workers like him a chance to better their lot in life. It would also ensure the availability of skilled workers to build the infrastructure of the future.
Case 1:21-cv-01421-NGG Case MDL No. 3011 Document 1 25-6 Filed 03/17/21 Filed 06/24/21 Page 24 Page of 154 24 of PageID 154 #: 280 50. Now more than ever there is a desperate need to build skills necessary to protect the safety and well-being of frontline trusted workers in the unselfish work they are called upon to do for the communities and public they serve. This historic crisis is made worse by lack of knowledge, skills and competency in the workforce, a problem needing to be immediately addressed as described in this Complaint. As we stand now, we are not prepared. 51. This undertaking seems massive and profound, and it is, reference the PRELUDE. We have been probing on behalf of Percy, deep into the history of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity to find out why it fails. Each time we think we have reached a solid foundation to build from, only to find we have not reached bedrock. The Class now has the grip it needs in this Complaint. 52. This Complaint against the State of New York begins with the failure of a settlement made by the Governor by New York State Executive Order 45 (9 NYCRR 3.45) (“Governor’s Executive Order 45. This action is grounded upon the final and enforceable Memorandum/Order (“Memorandum/Order”) of Judge Lasker reported at 384 F Supp 800, (Document #6, Attachment 3 of EDNY Case No. 21-cv-01366), of November 8, 1974, settled by agreement accepting Defendant New York State’s offer of Executive Order 45. The problem is that Executive Order 45 failed and has never been rectified by the Governor of the State of New York, which is a significant proximate cause of damages to the Class Plaintiff. PLAINTIFF: PARTIES 53. Class Representatives of the Plaintiff Class are Donna Hodge, Annette Hall, Karen Grant Williams, and Alexi Arias, a Class of employees of Employers. The Class is a class of all employees working for the Employers covered by the Program identified in this Complaint. 54. Albert E. Percy, (“Percy”) the Class Representative of a subclass of black and Spanish surname persons was certified as the class representative of the certified class by Judge Lasker in the Memorandum/Order at 384 F Supp 800, page 811 [S.D.N.Y. 1974] in Case 73-cv-04279, (Document #6, Attachment 3, page 12 in EDNY Case 21-cv-01366) the Class certified in Percy v. Brennan, Federal District Court SDNY Case 73-cv-04279, reported at 384 F. Supp 800, at Page 808, docketed in EDNY Case 21-cv-01366, Docket 6, Attachment 3, page 9, (the subclass being fully capable of learning to perform and/or performing skilled occupations as apprentices and journeypersons. (384 F Supp 800, at page 811 and also at 17-2273, Docket #99, Appendix 1, Volume 3, Page 660 and docketed in EDNY Case 21-cv-01366, Docket 6, Attachment 3, page 12). Percy, as a Complaining Party under 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2, was denied equal employment opportunities, and 24
Case 1:21-cv-01421-NGG Case MDL No. 3011 Document 1 25-6 Filed 03/17/21 Filed 06/24/21 Page 25 Page of 154 25 of PageID 154 #: 281 remains a proper representative of the Class, now here designated as a subclass. Percy’s personal and business interests and the claims hereinafter set forth are fully aligned with those of the Class. 55. Plaintiff Class Representative Percy Jobs and Careers Corporation is an Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) non-profit managing apprentice training at the Maritime College State University Of New York, PO Box 351, 6 Pennyfield Ave, Bronx, NY 10465. DEFENDANTS: 56. Defendant Andrew Mark Cuomo is the Governor of the State of New York and, as such, is the chief executive officer of the State of New York, in control of the following agencies under the executive branch of government of the State of New York (“Government Agencies”): The New York State Department of Financial Services is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo. On October 3, 2011, the State of New York created a new department, the Department of Financial Services, which assumed the responsibilities and authority of the former New York State Department of Insurance which had formerly been responsible for the regulation and oversight of insurance companies (referred to as the “DFS” in this Complaint), and is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo. The New York State Department of Labor is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo, with Roberta Reardon as successor to Louis J. Levine as Commissioner and is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo (referred to as the “DOL” in this Complaint). The New York State Division of Human Rights is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo. The State University of New York (“SUNY”) is under the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo or is under the New York State Department of Education which is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo. The New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (“NYCIRB”) is a quasi- Government Agency under the DFS or is an agency of the executive branch of government of the State of New York under Governor Cuomo. 25
