10-Year-Q/d Sex and Race Bias Case Against A P Settled

The Wire Service Guild has won a set· The seven women directly Involved tlement of $2 million and an extensive In the case will share $83,120. affirmative action program for Yfomen The Individual plaintiffs Include and blacks at The , Shirley Christian, Pulltz8f·Prlze-wlnnlng the nation's largest News ser~lce. Latin American correspondent for The guild, seven former female em­ The , who resigned from ployees of AP and the Equal Employ· the AP In 1979. She fought sex dis­ ment Opportunity Commission joined crimination at the AP for eight years on with the company In submitting a Con­ the foreign and World Desks before Are You Registered? sent Decree to the U.S. District Court being named AP's chief of bureau for In New York. The decree Is subJect to and in 1977. The assign­ approval by Judge Pierre Laval. ment came four years after she joined A separate case alleging discrimina­ In the original discrimination com· tion by The Associated Press against plaint filed with the EEOC. · It's A Man's World Unless Women Vote! persons of Hispanic origin was be'lng By .J. Wingard handled by the EEOC. The other Individuals are Ginny Pitt, ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? We know that Reagan's successes The settlement of the sex and race editorial writer for the Portland Press If you have moved recently, are about In eroding women's rights could not discrimination case provides for back Herald, Evening News and Maine Sun· to tum eighteen, or haven't had the have happened without the support of pay, training, promotion goals and day Telegram: Rachelle Cohen, editorial opportunity before, NOW Is the time the conservative Senate. We have an bonuses for women and blacks In page editor for the Boston Herald: to register. November 1984 will be a opportunity to tum around this body. news, editorial and news photo posl· Peggy Simpson, economic correspon· significant test of the emerging wo­ We have the opportunity to make the tlons. dent for the Hearst Newspapers; Fran· men's voting bloc. We all need to be Senate more feminist. Moreover, we "The Wire Service Guild has fought ces L Lewlne, features editor for Cable ready to cast our feminist votes. If you can make It more female. Women make this battle for 10 years and we are News Network; Maureen Connolly, edl· aren't registered, do It NOW! up over half the population, but at this pleased with the victory," said William tor of Business Digest, a regional busl· In the upcoming elections, each and moment they are only 2% of the Senate. Morrissey, the union's president. ''This ness publication In Maine; and VIrginia every vote will count, but women's votes We have the opportunity to at least settlement will change the makeup of Tyson, a reporter for the Los Angeles will be the razor's edge of difference double the number of women In the the AP's staff and Its management to Times. In race after race. If we maintain double Senate. To date, two feminists are more realistically reflect the diversity Blacks will share In nearly $500,000, digit gender gap percentages, women actively campaigning for the Senate: of American society. with most of the money earmarked for will be the margin of victory for .fem­ Nancy Dick (CO) and Joan Growe (M N). "Traditionally, AP management has an affirmative action program speclfl· Inist candidates across the country One of NOW's major commitments been a white male bastion. It Is to the cally designed to bring black reporters and will make It pos&lble to get more credit of the current management that Is to get more feminist women elected and editors to the AP. women elected. to public office at all levels. When the It Is willing to change without a pro­ At this time In our history It Is crucial tracted trial." In 1973, less than 1 percent of the ERA wss rejected we said that the AP's staff was black. Today black re­ that we make the best use of our gen­ amendment and other women's Issues Women who have worked for the der gap advantage. AP between November 29, 1972 and porters, editors and photographers would not be fully and fairly addressed account for only 1.4 percent of the Many of our priority Issues are hang· until more people holding elected office June 30, 1983 will share nearly $1 mil· lng In the balance right now: ERA, the lion. Most of the money Is for back pay 1,091 parsons on the AP's domestic were women. In the November elec· news staff. Economic Equity Act, and the Non· tlons last year, women made a tremen· based on length of ser~lce with the Discrimination In Insurance Bill. And company. In 1973 AP's news staff was dous Impact, and the polls Indicate The EEOC took the case as one of the gains that we have made In recent that the gender gap can have an even about 7 percent female. It Is currently Its first nationwide Investigations In years are all too quickly slipping away about 22 percent women. more powerful Impact In 1984. We must 1975 when pressed to act by Guild from us. Under the Reagan Admlnlstra· once again translate our voting strength The Consent Decree, which contains Counsel Sidney Reitman. Janice Good· tlon the Department of Justice Is argu· Into victories at the polls. a non-admission clause, sets a goal man, a New York attorney, joined the lng to limit the scope of Title IX (of The slgnlfance of the 1984 elections of 37 percent women for filling entry· oase to represent the seven women the Education Amendments of 1972) In Is clear. We must defeat Ronald Rea­ level reporting and editing jobs, as well and both attorneys were eventually prohibiting sex discrimination In fader· gan. We must tum around the Senate. as goals for promotion of women to named to represent all women and ally funded schools. Reagan budget And we must elect more women to the positions such as correspondent, for­ blacks at the AP as classes. cuts In child care, welfare, food stamps, Senate, the House, and to all state eign correspondent, assistant chief The case Is novel because the union Social Security, WIC (Women, Infants, legislatures. of bureau, chief of bureau and assistant was certified as the representative of and Children Program) disproportion· Our path Is clear: we need to educate general manager. the women and blacks In the class· ately affect women and drive more of and organize ourselves. We need to Women who receive promotions will action suft. The company- agreed to us further Into poverty. And our rights work In and contribute to feminist cam­ get bonuses of $1,250. Another $50,000 pick up more than $500,000 In legal are eroded dally In other areas, lnclud· paigns. We need to run for office and Is available to train women for promo­ costs and other expenses for the union, lng affirmative action, civil rights, and encourage other feminists to run. And tions. the EEOC and the Individual plaintiffs. federal contract compliance. we must vote In record numbers. The In order to stem that tide, we must beginning of each journey Is the first Increase the number of feminists In step. Take that step now. Register to govemmant. We are all aware that we vote. Health Stud~ Destrrovs will suffer even greater setbacks In the next 13 months of Reagan's Admin· (Registration laws vary from state to f.ongevit¥.; Gap as Basis lstratlon; and the next four years will state. If you are In doubt as to how to be even more destructive than the first register In yqur state, call your local were. We must replace Ronald Reagan NOW chapter, or call the county Board tor Insurance Prices in 1984. of EfecUons.) By Judy Goldsmith the greater propensity of men to alco­ women. Their house of cards is collap­ hol abuse, which Is the third leading sing. In the llgllt of this new and com· A study reported In the August 10 Moreover, the Insurance ln"ustry cause of death In this country and pelllng evidence challenglrtg the lndu~· Washington Post Indicates that the has used Its woefully obsolete and costs $18 billion annuaUy in health try's statistical base, NOW calls UP9J1 longevity gap between women and men Inaccurate actuarial tables to cover up services. life Insurance companies to change Is directly related to smoking. and to justify its sex discriminatory their position and join In support of the The difference In lifespan between practices In all kinds of Insurance. In This Is the beginning of the end for legislation currently before Congress women and men has been used by the auto Insurance, where sex is used as the insurance industry's intolerable to outlaw sex discrimination In insur· Insurance Industry to Justify its sex a proxy for miles driven, the Industry and unjustifiable discrimination against ance. discriminatory rating systems and price has justified overcharging both young manipulation to Inflate profits. We have men and young women, but more heav· seld from the beginning that their sys­ ily overcharging1young men. The indus­ tem was a hpuse of cards. We said try then has had the effrontery to call that It did not reflect reality for the this practlca a "break" for women. The vast majority of people and could not reality is that because of differences withstand scrutiny. · in average miles driven and drinking The study, done by Dean R. Gerstein habits (half of the accidents that occur ~ 1983 The Nellonal OrpnlZIItlon for Women, Inc. All rights nllefYed. of the National Research Council and are caused by drunk drivers, the major· Second dass postage peld et Welhlllgton, D.C., end el additional melllng offices. Gus Miller of Indiana University of Penn­ lty of whom are men), women on aver· sylvania, Is described as "The first large age have far better driving records for Headquartet'S: 425 13th Street, NW, Suite 723, Washington, DC 20004 study to try to explain the difference their entire Jives. It Is Important to (Changes ot address and cancallatlons should be sent to the above address,J In longevity" by removing two key fac· emphasize that this Is not because tors: cigarette smoking and the higher they are femal e~. but because they rate of violent death among young men. drive less and are less Ukely to be drunk Editorial Office: 1126 H1·Point Street, Los Angeles, CA 90035 Their conclusion Is that men who "are drivers. Therefore, the fact that women not killed violently and do not smoke after the age of 25 generally pay the Subscription rate for Institutions and non-members: $35.00 can be expected to live to the seme age same rates as men means that women as women of their same social level." are paying more than they should, and The insurance Industry has presented are subsidizing the cost of higher male Executive Committee Ualson: Kathy Webb the longevity gap aa an eternal truth, accident rates. Editors: Toni Carablllo & Judith Meuli carved In stone. Our position, now The Industry has grossly distorted reinforced by this study, has been that statistical data relating to health claims the difference In longevity has been a experience to jus\ify exorbitantly high Staff fluctuating reality and clearly related rates for women In health and dlsabiiUy to other factors, for which the Industry Insurance. The Industry has also re­ has used sex as a proxy. fused to reflect In the rating system 2