An employment attorney can act as a representative for the employee either with a union or with management. Often employment attorneys are hired before a case is filed to attempt to resolve the issues without the necessity of going through the court system.
As a general rule, American employment law does not allow for any form of discrimination based on age, gender, race, or national origin. If you feel you've been a victim of discrimination, contact your local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
You should always be aware of your rights as an employee, especially if you work in a job with more than the ordinary level of danger to it. If you do and your employer isn't providing first aid and Occupational Safety Hazard Administration training, ask them why not.
