Protesters Picket Mitsubishi in Tokyo

07/03/96

Protesters picketed Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's annual meeting in Tokyo last Thursday over the charges of sexual harassment that have been leveled at the company's division in the United States, Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America (MMMA).

The protesters called for the Corporation to quickly settle a law suit that the U.S. government's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed against the company's plant in Normal, Illinois. Although the company has refused to comment about whether it is willing to settle the case, activists point to the fact that MMMA's parent company has gotten involved in the issue as a positive sign.

Rosemary Dempsey, vice president of the National Organization for Women, said, "I think the fact that the parent company has become involved means that steps will be taken."

Earlier last week Mitsubishi announced that an investigation led by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin would produce specific steps to improve the work environment for women and minorities at its U.S. units as early as mid-July.

The EEOC law suit against MMMA has charged Mitsubishi's American Subsidiary with allowing "a hostile and abusive work environment" to exist at its plant in Normal, Illinois. The law suit alleges that women were touched and groped, and fired if they complained. The suit seeks back pay with interest and benefits, and punitive and compensatory damages that could amount to $300,000 for as many as 500 of the 700 women the plant employed. If the suit goes to trial it will be the largest sexual harassment suit that the U.S. government has ever brought against a company or corporation.

Activists have planned demonstrations in the United States at the company's dealerships, and boycotts have not been ruled out if no further progress is made. Mitsubishi announced that it has not yet noticed a decline in sales that could be correlated to fallout from publicity over the law suit.

Japanese and American activists worked together to mount the demonstration against the company in Tokyo. The Japanese demonstrators used the issue as a way to focus Japanese attention on sexual discrimination at home, emphasizing the interconnected nature of discrimination in the workplace globally.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel