FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, 767

MITSUBISHI'S COMMITTED TO A MODEL WORK ENVIRONMENT? NOW SAYS: PROVE IT TO THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SUFFERED

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1996

"If Mitsubishi's management team is truly interested in creating a `model workplace environment,' one component must be to stop all harassment and retaliation against those women who have complaints," said NOW Action Vice President Rosemary Dempsey. "A good start would be to settle the pending lawsuits filed by the EEOC and by 29 women.

"The administrative steps set forth by Mitsubishi are `baby steps' and are no doubt a necessary part of a company-wide restructuring. But before they spend millions on expensive consultants, Mitsubishi should deal with the problems on its factory floor and with the women who have suffered from management's `blame the victim' approach.

"More than half of the 29 women who filed sexual harassment charges against Mitsubishi have been fired or have had to leave because of harassment," Dempsey said. "These women lost good jobs, their health insurance and pension benefits, and they are being retaliated against in finding new employment simply because they wanted their former employer to stop breaking the law."

While most management who knew of sexual harassment at the Normal, Ill., plant are still on the job, women complainants face continued harassment and financial ruin. Death threats and hostile acts have been reported by some of the women who have filed private lawsuits. What have not received much publicity are incidents where:

• Some of their unemployment claims were challenged by Mitsubishi.
• The hostile work environment caused some women to become physically disabled due to the stress and physical abuse.
• Disability benefits were withheld from some of the women for months, creating stressful financial circumstances.
• Women wanting to return to work following disability leaves were and are still being told by Mitsubishi officials: "We have no jobs for you."
• Women who previously had no problems finding jobs were suddenly unable to find work or had to accept jobs far below their education and training levels.
• Several of the women are now in serious financial trouble and face bankruptcy.