FORD Motor Company in the USA has been ordered to pay Fayette Nale $187,032 compensation because she was fired after rejecting her foreman's sexual advances. Her committeeman (steward) testified that her foreman used suggestives gestures to her.
The UAW (United Auto Workers), Fayette's union, has national policy sTates ThaT sexual serious obstacle the achieve ment of full employment opportunities for workers of both sexes.
The union uses its national and local press to educate members about the role sexual harassment can play dividing workforce. The most recent letter to all union branches points to the fact that at least three types of victim result from sexual harassment. The national president stated:
Local branch represents 10,000 employccs. per cent women. Both clerical and tactory ODS are same union.
Fired The initial walk out in support secretary resulted in one worker being fired and others written ings. union has secured the reinstatement of the fired worker but not the firing of the managers.
This has led to a major aebate on ine best way ine union can defend women workers in te long celli. In this particular dispute a one dav strike is proposec if the issue is not resolved the negotiations.
And these are not the ov umous to lake uo unc of sexual harassNICHL. Suffer The second National Conference of women coalminers 1980 requested a comprehensive study of harassment in the coal mines and it Has now been completed.
It showed that 53 per cent of respondents nad been propositioned by their bosses and one third of these women felt they would suffer if they turned their boss down and 70 per Cenl uncomtortable because of the proposiDON.
76 per cent of women reported thes had been propositioned by a workmate, 35 per cent of these felt uncomfortable, the rest felt neutral to pleased.
The report pointed out that the greater incidence of propositions from coWomen Review has had to confront this head While their management would sack une for physically attacking secretary, it did sack four employees sexually abusive language.
Fear The women's committee and activists in this union local are adamant that all forms of sexua harassment have to stop. Their and discussions have lead them to the woman's right to work Management usE tear of coercion, intimidation, assaulil, to try and drive women the force.
way management divides the workforce to pit worker against worker.
Local 201 has reached the decision that the union and Halasculc should deal sexual harassment workHales