FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, 767; SHELLEY GOLDEN, 761
NOW President Patricia Ireland will announce the beginning of a national campaign against Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing Corporation at a joint press conference with the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the National Rainbow Coalition and Operation PUSH on Tuesday, May 7, at 11 a.m., outside the Chicago office of the EEOC (500 West Madison).
Ireland will provide details of a National Mother's Day of Action set for this Sunday, which will launch a campaign of informational pickets outside of Mitsubishi dealerships across the country.
"Mitsubishi's response to complaints of sexual abuse and harassment has been abhorrent. While the Japanese parent corporation has already written off more than $300 million in losses at the plant, the U.S. company has tried to hide its own bad management by scapegoating the women who have brought the charges, claiming that they may bring the company down and cost their co-workers their jobs. The manufacturer has resorted to attempts to intimidate the women and to pit employee against employee, effectively increasing hostility on the job.
"Harassment in the workplace is rampant, it's against the law, and it has to be taken seriously. This weekend, NOW activists will start our national campaign, and we won't stop until Mitsubishi resolves the critical issue of abuses against women and people of color at its plant," Ireland said.
Further information on the National Mother's Day of Action can be obtained by contacting the NOW Press Department at (202)331-0066 or press@now.org .