The announcement followed months of discussions with Detroit Edison plant workers and management. NOW learned of the allegations against the utility company from the plaintiffs in a class-action sexual harassment and sex, race and age discrimination lawsuit filed against Detroit Edison in December 1998.
"Public utilities companies should have policies and practices that are in the best interest of the public. As Detroit Edison's monopoly comes to an end, we are launching an action campaign to let people know that the company is a Merchant of Shame," Ireland said. "Before Michiganders choose a utility company under the new deregulation rules, we want them to know about the working conditions and abuses reported at Detroit Edison plants." Michigan will begin to phase in deregulation on September 20, 1999.
In the past, NOW's Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign has targeted companies with serious allegations of workplace abuses. Recently, the campaign has been expanded to include the Fortune 500 Project. As part of this project, NOW invites the country's largest businesses to take the Employer's Pledge to provide women-friendly, family-friendly workplaces free of harassment and discrimination. Detroit Edison is a Fortune 500 company, the largest utility in Michigan and the seventh largest in the nation.
"Detroit Edison management declined to take the Employer's Pledge. However, we thought we at least had their agreement not to attack the plaintiffs' character or attempt to turn other workers against them," Ireland said. "Now even that small hope has been dashed, and we must turn up the heat on Detroit Edison."
Ireland promised to encourage activists from around the region to tell Detroit Edison to clean-up its workplace. "We're going to help Detroit Edison see the light: harassment and discrimination are not only bad business practices, they're bad for business," Ireland said.
###