ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 100

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 1996

By Assemblywomen TURNER, HECK, Assemblymen Gusciora, Greenwald, Assemblywoman Allen, Assemblyman DeSopo, Assemblywoman Quigley, Assemblymen R. Smith, Zisa, Lance, Mattison, T. Smith, Assemblywoman Gill, Assemblymen Pascrell, Kelly, Caraballo, Doria, Kramer, Assemblywoman Weinberg, Assemblyman Jones, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Bucco, Garcia and Assemblywoman Wright

An Assembly Resolution urging a speedy resolution of the suit by EEOC against Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc.

Whereas, On April 9, 1996, a class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Peoria Division, by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charging Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. (MMMA) of fostering an atmosphere where female employees were subjected to sexual harassment by male co-workers at the Mitsubishi manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois; and

Whereas, In addition to the lawsuit filed by the EEOC, a separate lawsuit was filed in federal district court over one year ago on behalf of a group of 29 female employees at the same plant also charging "relentless sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual abuse from male colleagues, and in many cases, from their male supervisors;" and

Whereas, As early as 1992, female employees began complaining of sexual misconduct at the factory in Normal, some of whom have experienced reprisals and threats as a result of raising the allegations and bringing the charges; and

Whereas, MMMA officials initially denied the allegations of harassment and abuse but have recently committed to resolving and settling the EEOC lawsuit and strengthening policies to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents; and

Whereas, Sexual harassment and abuse are serious violations of the rights of employees in the workforce under federal law; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. That the EEOC is respectfully requested to take all appropriate steps to ensure a speedy resolution of the class action filed against Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. charging sexual harassment and abuse of female workers at the Mitsubishi manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, as well as the action filed by the group of 29 female workers charging similar occurences.

    2. That duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the EEOC, Members of Congress, the President of the United States and Attorney General Janet Reno.

STATEMENT

    This assembly resolution respectfully requests to take appropriate steps to ensure quick resolution of the class action filed by the EEOC against Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. charging sexual harassment and abuse of female employees at the Mitsubishi manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois.

Requests Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to facilitate a speedy resolution of the class action filed against Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America charging sexual harassment and abuse of female workers at the manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois.