Sexual Harassment Settlement
Mitsubishi! > Issues > Employment Discrimination > EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) > Press Release > Mitsubishi Motor and EEOC Settle
Abstract: Mitsubishi Motor and EEOC Settle
Normal and Chicago, Illinois. June 11, 1998. Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America (MMMA) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reached a $34 million settlement on behalf of current and former MMMA employees who were subjected to an alleged pattern and practice of sexual harassment at MMMA's Normal, Illinois, manufacturing plant since 1990.
At the joint request of the parties, U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade appointed a "special master," Judge Abner Mikva, on April 16, 1998, to facilitate settlement discussion which led to a proposed Consent Decree.
Kohei Ikuta, Executive Vice-President of MMMA, said: ""We want to reaffirm today what we have said previously: we have had problems involving sexual harassment which required correction and we extend our sincere regret to any woman who has been harmed. "
Paul M. Igasaki, Chairman of the EEOC, said: "I am hopeful that with continued effort and vigilance the problems at Mitsubishi will be a thing of the past."
Karsuhiko Kawasoe, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, the parent company of MMMA, said: "We are pleased that MMMA has reached a resolution with the EEOC in this matter. "
John C. Hendrickson, EEOC's Regional Attorney in Chicago and lead counsel for the government, said: "The litigation of this case and the negotiations which produced today's settlement have been as tough and rigorous as any I have experienced. ... It provides immediate compensation to women who suffered discrimination, it provides protection for them inside the work place, and it ensures fairness and cooperation and dignity for everybody on the line at Mitsubishi."
According to the proposed Consent Decree, MMMA will pay $34 million. In the proposed Consent Decree, which MMMA entered into voluntarily and which formally enjoins MMMA, the Company agreed that it will revise as necessary its existing sexual harassment policy and complaint procedure to ensure that it continues to encourage employees to come forward with complaints about violations of MMMA's Statement of Zero-Tolerance Policy and Equality Objectives. MMMA further agrees that it will continue its best efforts to investigate all complaints of sexual harassment within three weeks and prepare its written findings of the results of each investigation and remedial actions proposed seven days thereafter. As part of the settlement, MMMA will continue to provide mandatory sexual harassment training to employees.
The Company has voluntarily agreed to the appointment of a three-person panel of Decree Monitors to oversee the execution of the steps included in the settlement for the duration of the proposed Consent Decree. Additionally, one of the three Decree Monitors will serve as the Complaint Monitor who will monitor, for the duration of the proposed Consent Decree, the investigation and resolution of complaints alleging violations of MMMA's sexual harassment policy.
For complete text of EEOC's press release: Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing and EEOC Reach Voluntary Agreement To Settle Harassment Suit (June 11, 1998)
Relevant links
Sexual harassment lawsuit cases against Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing at Normal Plant
Age Discrimination lawsuit cases against Mitsubishi
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