Denver, CO: Yesterday, Anna “Scout” Wise, who formerly worked with the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), filed a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, seeking to represent thousands of workers who have worked on the program in Antarctica over the past several years. The complaint accuses private federal contractors of systematically suppressing wages, retaliating against workers who raise concerns about their mistreatment and serious health and safety issues, and entering into illegal no-poach agreements that have denied workers in Antarctica the bargaining power of a free and fair market for their labor.
The lawsuit sheds light on how private companies, working under federal contracts that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, have effectively kept thousands of Antarctic workers trapped in low-paying jobs and denied them the opportunity to shop between contractors for higher wages or better treatment. Wise alleges that these contractors agreed not to hire workers from one another without explicit permission and agreed to blacklist workers who complain about their mistreatment, practices that violate federal antitrust laws.
“Antarctica workers dedicate themselves to ensuring the success of critical scientific research,” said Laura Wolf, founder of Spark Justice Law and one of Wise’s lawyers. “But instead of rewarding that dedication, these contractors have profited immensely while suppressing workers’ rights to fair pay, safety, and mobility.”
Wise, who worked in waste management at McMurdo Station for several seasons, claims she faced retaliation after raising concerns about pay inequities and unsafe working conditions. Despite being promoted to a supervisory role, Wise discovered she was earning less than a less-experienced male colleague who she had trained and supervised. After reporting this disparity and voicing broader concerns about systemic issues, she alleges she was blacklisted from further Antarctic employment.
“I’m bringing this case because Antarctic workers deserve respect, dignity, and fair treatment. Deep-pocketed companies have profited off of our sacrifices and labor for far too long, reaping the rewards for our work in some of the harshest conditions on Earth,” said Wise.
This case highlights how anticompetitive practices harm workers by stripping them of an open market for wages. With hiring controlled by a small group of contractors and dependent on a rigorous physical qualification process, Antarctic workers are uniquely vulnerable to exploitation. The lawsuit seeks redress for current and former employees and to ensure fair treatment for those supporting essential Antarctic operations.
“Antarctic workers deserve more than exploitation from companies profiting at their expense,” said Rachel Dempsey, Attorney at Towards Justice, also representing Wise. “This lawsuit is about restoring fairness to the labor market and holding corporations accountable for practices that harm workers and undermine economic justice.”
“Systemic wage suppression has deprived thousands of Antarctica workers of the fair compensation they deserve for their hard work. This class action lawsuit aims to secure class-wide relief for every worker affected by these unlawful practices,” said Rachhana T. Srey of Nichols Kaster, PLLP. “We look forward to collaborating with our co-counsel to challenge these exploitative agreements and ensure that workers are justly compensated.”
The complaint aims to secure damages for lost wages, prevent future illegal practices, and push for systemic reforms to ensure workers’ rights are protected in one of the world’s most challenging workplaces. The lawsuit is brought by Laura B. Wolf of Spark Justice Law, Aurora L. Randolph of ALR Civil Rights LLC, Juno Turner, David H. Seligman, and Rachel W. Dempsey of Towards Justice, and Rachhana T. Srey, and H. Clara Coleman of Nichols Kaster, PLLP.
###