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Gretchen Carlson.
- Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News anchor, has asked Democratic presidential hopeful, Michael Bloomberg, to release women from the NDAs they signed while working for him.
- She raised the issue on Twitter, in response to a question by journalist Kirsten Powers about whether people see Bloomberg as the candidate to "beat Trump."
- "Giving women their voices back is a must for our next prez," Carlson said.
- Bloomberg has been accused repeatedly of making sexist remarks and propagating a toxic workplace culture, but all those who have leveled allegations at him are bound by NDAs.
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Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News anchor, is issuing a call to action to billionaire and former New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
She is urging the Democratic presidential candidate to free women of the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) they signed as his employees at Bloomberg LP.
Last year, Carlson joined Julie Roginsky and Diana Falzone, who also worked at Fox News, to establish a nonprofit called Lift Our Voices. The trio sued their company - and chairman and CEO at the time, Roger Ailes - for sexual harassment and workplace discrimination. NDAs were part of each of their settlements.
The goal of this new organization, they said, is to empower women to speak out publicly about unfair workplace practices that they experienced while bound by mandatory NDAs.
This issue arose on Monday when journalist Kirsten Powers asked her Twitter followers a question.
Carlson's reply said in part that she can't support Bloomberg until "he gets on board to eradicate NDAs he made women sign" when they worked for him at Bloomberg LP.
Laurie Evans, who spent six years on the company's sales team, sued Bloomberg LP of creating a "culture of discrimination" in the workplace, according to a Business Insider investigation.
In all, Business Insider found nearly 40 employment lawsuits from 65 plaintiffs that have been filed against Bloomberg LP and the man himself in both state and federal courts, dating back to 1996. Most cases allege discrimination over gender, race, and disability status, as well as pregnancy discrimination and wage theft.
A follow-up article by ABC News found that three of the 17 women who have filed suits against Bloomberg LB named Bloomberg himself for the treatment meted out to them. One woman has accused Bloomberg of saying "kill it" when he heard that she was pregnant.
A common thread between Carlson, Roginsky, and Falzone as well as the women who have directed allegations at Bloomberg, is that they're all constrained by NDAs.
Lift Our Voices sent a letter to all the presidential hopefuls in December, asking them to condemn NDAs. The letter says in part: "These NDAs are a driving force in silencing workers and promulgating a culture where employers are able to cover up toxicity, including issues of sexual harassment and gender discrimination, rather than address it and end it."
The nonprofit has called on candidates to "demonstrate that they are on the side of the women and men who have been silenced for too long from discussing the hostility they have encountered by speaking out loudly and publicly against NDAs."
Read more:
- The life of Michael Bloomberg: How an unemployed 39-year-old banker became a billionaire, 3-time mayor of New York, and presidential hopeful
- Michael Bloomberg, the wealthiest 2020 candidate, used prison labor to help his campaign
I'll admit I've been pretty skeptical about a @MikeBloomberg candidacy but more and more people keep telling me how much they like him and they think he could be the person to beat Trump. Then last night even my mom said it. Any others out there who feel same way?
- Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) February 3, 2020Not until he gets on board to eradicate NDAs he made women sign at @business (Bloomberg) and join forces w/other Presidential candidates whove supported us/women at @LiftOurVoicesUS ! Giving women their voices back is a must for our next Prez @julieroginsky @dianafalzone https://t.co/XXuhNUtSKe
- Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) February 3, 2020This is the letter we wrote to all presidential candidates this morning to join us in fighting against mandatory NDAs that protect toxic work environments. @LiftOurVoicesUS @GretchenCarlson @dianafalzone pic.twitter.com/NYmW8dtcrA
- Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) December 18, 2019