Car Owners Can Encourage Change

About 4,000 people work at the Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America plant in Normal, Ill. The plant was humming along just fine - on the surface. Employees were paid well. The company’s cars were popular and received good ratings in consumer magazines.

But for at least a third of the plant’s 900 women employees, life was a nightmare. Men grabbed their breasts, buttocks and genitals. Called them sluts, whores, bitches. Lists of women’s breast sizes were posted in the men’s restrooms. And those are just some of the tamer accusations.

When some of the women complained, they were ignored or retaliated against. Finally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit that could cost the company $10 million.

Why should Inland Northwest people, especially women, care about something happening in a Midwest automobile factory? Because the world is watching this case. And its outcome might help bring about healthy and necessary changes in non-traditional workplaces throughout the country.

In the early 1990s, awareness and sensitivity in white-collar workplaces grew tremendously. High profile cases helped Americans understand what a hostile work environment really means. It would be a stupid boss (male or female) who would now touch an employee improperly, make sexual demands or talk dirty on the job.

But women are newer to non-traditional work. So the Mitsubishi scandal might force managers of other non-traditional work sites, such as industrial factories and construction companies, to evaluate their sexual harassment awareness training.

Some women’s groups are so appalled at Mitsubishi that they are calling for a boycott of cars made by the company. But this tactic could actually hurt women at the plant, and throughout the country, who help make and sell those cars. A boycott might lead to layoffs and lower wages.

So we propose another tactic. If you own a Mitsubishi, write company officials a letter. If you are happy with your car, tell them. Then inform them that you will be following the harassment case closely. You will watch to see if the company rights the plant’s injustices toward women. You will watch to see if the company sends the important message that it is unacceptable to put an air gun between a female co-worker’s legs and pull the trigger.

Let them know that how they handle the scandal will determine whether you ever buy one of their cars again. Maybe then they’ll listen. Here’s the address: Mitsubishi, 100 North Mitsubishi Motorway, Normal, IL 61761.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rebecca Nappi/For the editorial board