Feds accuse Minntac of violating pregnant woman’s rights
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DULUTH, Min. – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Steel – the company that runs Minntac.
The lawsuit says the violated a pregnant woman’s rights.
During her pregnancy she needed to avoid working on the most physically jarring machinery as an accommodation during her high-risk pregnancy.
The lawsuit claims, “Instead of temporarily allowing her to do other work within her job description, U.S. Steel placed her on an involuntary leave for several weeks.” The suit claims the company later let her come back to work, but assigned her to work inconsistent with her medical restrictions and then removed her from her normal role altogether.
FOX21 asked U.S. Steel for comment. A spokesperson with the US Steel Media Team told us, “We do not comment on pending litigation, however, we are committed to ethical conduct and following the rule of law at all times.”
The suit also claimed she was not provided cold weather gear similar to other co-workers.
The woman suiting had pregnancy related limitations start in October of 2023. In January of 2024 the woman miscarried her baby.
The lawsuit further alleged that U.S. Steel retaliated against her after her pregnancy, by denying her higher-paying assignments and sending her to more difficult and less desirable jobs in remote areas of the mine.
In announcing the lawsuit in a news release acting EEOC General Counsel Catherine Eschbach said, “It is important that employers understand that the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act created new and meaningful legal protections for pregnant workers… Employers should promptly review and update their workplace policies and practices to ensure they comply with the law.”
The suit was filed in Federal Court on December 19, 2025.
