Settlement reached in breastfeeding lawsuit

A Grand Junction hair salon worker has settled a federal anti-discrimination lawsuit over claims that her boss refused to give her breaks to pump breast milk.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado Thursday announced the settlement in the lawsuit filed on behalf of Ashley Provino. Provino claimed that she asked her boss at Big League Haircuts in Grand Junction for a short break every four hours. Provino says her boss refused, cut her schedule to less than four hours and later fired her when she called in sick.

The salon agreed to pay Provino an undisclosed amount of money and pay attorney’s fees. Big League Haircuts also agreed to policy changes to ensure workers are informed of their rights.

Salon attorney Michael Santo says neither side admitted wrongdoing.