FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: LORETTA KANE, 202-331-0066 X 762

NOW CALLS ON MITSUBISHI TO SETTLE SEX DISCRIMINATION SUITS

AUGUST 27, 1997

After a busy spring and summer filled with demonstrations against Mitsubishi, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is calling on the automobile company to settle the EEOC and private sex discrimination suits and to cease its vicious efforts to discredit the women who have charged widespread sexual harassment at the Mitsubishi Manufacturing plant. The parties in the private lawsuit will hold a settlement conference with the judge on Thursday, August 28, in Peoria, Ill.

"While Mitsubishi has taken some positive steps in its effort to eliminate discrimination in its Normal, Illinois plant, progress is stalled unless and until the sex discrimination suits are settled," said NOW President Patricia Ireland.

This spring NOW named Mitsubishi a Merchant of Shame because of the company's attacks against some of the women who filed sex discrimination charges. In court documents, lawyers for Mitsubishi threatened to prove that some of the women had a " . . . pattern of promiscuous sexual behavior . . ." as Mitsubishi's defense against sexual harassment charges. Mitsubishi, through its lawyers, also cited the women's medical histories as further proof of promiscuity -- alleging that one or more of the women had had abortions.

"We will continue to target Mitsubishi with protests until there is justice for the women who were brave enough to speak out against harassment and discrimination," Ireland said. NOW activists in more than a dozen cities across the country celebrated Women's Equality Day with Women-Friendly Workplace demonstrations that included protests against the automobile manufacturer. "Our message is simple: Settle the suits fairly or continue to be a Merchant of Shame. We will not rest until the women of Mitsubishi have a just resoultion of their charges," Ireland said.

NOW representatives are available for comment -- including Illinois NOW President Cindy Guerra who can be reached at 217-528-2077. For more information on NOW's Women-Friendly Workplace campaign, visit our Web site at http://www.now.org.