Compliance July 19, 2006

Calif. Newspaper Settles Sexual Harassment Case for $150,000

July 19, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The San Jose Mercury News will pay $150,000 to settle a sexual harassment case brought by a former mail room worker who claimed his supervisor of eight months subjected him to unwelcomed sexual comments and inappropriate touching.
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Mark Newton, who was a mail room worker, said his supervisor sexually harassed him in October 2002. He claimed that he appealed to another supervisor, who ignored the claims, the Mercury News reported.

According to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission attorney William Tamayo, the sexual harassment only stopped when Newton complained to upper management and the accused supervisor was reprimanded, according to the newspaper.

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The newspaper did not admit wrongdoing but said it would reissue its sexual harassment policy and provide additional training to mail room employees.

Newton  contacted the EEOC, which filed the civil case against the newspaper in December 2003.

“I am probably the last person you would expect to find seeking help from the EEOC – a middle-aged white male, married with children. The harassment I faced at work is something no one should have to go through,” Newton said in a statement that the EEOC released and the newspaper reported.

The Mercury News’ Vice President of Human Resources Kathleen Slattery said, “We’ve investigated it, dealt with it appropriately and the matter is resolved,” according to the paper.

Compliance July 18, 2006

Boehner Predicts Pension Conference Report Out Soon

July 18, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - On Tuesday, a key member of the US House of Representatives Republican leadership rebuffed allegations that Democrats have effectively been shut out of deliberations on sweeping pension reform.
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House Majority Leader Representative John Boehner (R-Ohio) rejected charges that Democratic representatives have been blocked from participating in the debates of the House-Senate conference committee, which is trying to hammer out a final version of the pension reform measure.

“Democrats know that they have been consulted,” Boehner asserted, according to interview transcripts released by his office. “I can’t hardly think of a day that has gone by over the last three months that I haven’t talked to at least one Democrat on the pension issue. And so they are in the loop.”

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As have other prominent lawmakers in recent days, Boehner contended that the work of the conference soon will reach a conclusion.

“I think we are very close to an agreement,” the lawmaker said. “There are several meetings today on pensions, so we will see what happens.”

Boehner also described sessions that took place during this weekend as productive, as well as “constructive.” 

“I think we are close, I think we are very close,” he said.

Boehner said he continues to support “reasonable and responsible” relief for troubled industries by rehabilitating their pensions. Executives of ailing US airlines having made particularly concerted pleas for help in getting their pensions properly funded.

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