Jennifer Smith’s sexual harassment and gender discrimination case against Eugene/Springfield Public Utility District Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee of Oregon is headed for a resolution. Following an investigation by the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries, the apprentice linewoman’s case has been sent to the Oregon State Apprenticeship and Training Council for a final decision, expected sometime in October.
Smith filed complaints in December 2009 with BOLI asking it to overturn a local JATC ruling that she was not ready to graduate as a journey-level linewoman. She claimed gender discrimination and sexual harassment during her apprenticeship resulted in her failure to graduate. The JATC has cited poor monthly progress reports given by Smith’s superiors for not passing her. Smith has accused one of these superiors of sexual assault.