sexual harassment Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Major Wenatchee Fruit Company Stemilt Growers Settles Sexual Harassment And Retaliation Suit

By Esmy Jimenez April 5, 2018

Stemilt Growers, based in Wenatchee, Wash., adopted a ladybug in its logos as part of a "Responsible Choice" campaign in 1989. Courtesy Stemilt Growers

In the wake of the Me Too movement, a sexual harassment and retaliation case at a large fruit company brings the issue closer to home in Wenatchee. Stemilt Growers, a leader in Washington’s apple and cherry industry, has agreed to pay nearly $100,000 to settle a lawsuit with a former employee. Read More

New Washington Laws Aim To Address Workplace Sexual Harassment And Gender Pay Gap

By Austin Jenkins March 21, 2018

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee poses with state Sen. Karen Keiser at a bill signing ceremony on Wednesday.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed several measures into law aimed at tackling sexual harassment in the workplace and an update to the Equal Pay Act to help address gender pay gap in the state. Continue Reading New Read More

Native Community Reels From Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Famed Native Writer Sherman Alexie

By Emily Schwing March 6, 2018

File photo. Multiple women hae accused Native American writer Sherman Alexie of sexual harassment.. CREDIT: ASU DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

One of the best-known Native American writers in the Northwest has come under fire for sexual harassment. Sherman Alexie is Spokane Indian, making the allegations against Alexie particularly painful for members of the Native community. Read More

‘It Just Felt Very Wrong’: Sherman Alexie’s Accusers Go On The Record

By NPR News March 6, 2018

Sherman Alexie speaks at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day at Seattle's City Hall in 2016. CREDIT: ELAINE THOMPSON

Writer Sherman Alexie issued a statement last week admitting he "has harmed" others, after rumors and allegations began to circulate about sexual harassment. Without providing details, Alexie said "there are women telling the truth," and he apologized to the people he has hurt. Now, some of those women have come forward to speak to NPR about their experiences with him. Read More

Multiple Women Accuse Tacoma Lawmaker Of Unprofessional, Inappropriate Behavior

By Austin Jenkins February 23, 2018

Multiple women have accused Washington state Rep. David Sawyer of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior. CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE

In recent weeks, eight women interviewed by Northwest News Network, The News Tribune and The Olympian have said Washington state Rep. David Sawyer of Tacoma has crossed personal and professional boundaries, sometimes repeatedly, and accused him of engaging in behavior before and after he joined the Legislature that ranged from inappropriate to harassing. Read More

POLL: The ‘Inappropriate’ Office Behaviors Most Pervasive In Workplaces

By NPR News February 23, 2018

Over 9 in 10 people think both gossip and deliberate touching are inappropriate at work, and many have seen it happen. Yet, almost no one admitted to doing either in a new Ipsos/NPR poll. Continue Reading POLL: The ‘Inappropriate’ Office Read More

Addressing Sexual Harassment At Washington Capitol Isn’t As Easy As Hoped

By Austin Jenkins February 8, 2018

Washington Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson

Efforts to address sexual harassment in the Washington state Capitol have suffered a setback. Legislative leaders had pledged to improve the workplace climate following reports late last year that revealed a history of misconduct at the Capitol. But finding a solution has proven more difficult than expected. Read More

UPDATE: Oregon State Senator Resigns After Investigation Finds He Persisted With Unwanted Touching

By NWPB News February 8, 2018

Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, makes remarks before a vote Friday, July 8, 2005, at the Oregon Capitol. CREDIT: RICK BOWMER

An investigation into behavior by Oregon Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, released this week states Kruse had a pattern of “engaging in unwelcome physical contact toward females in the workplace.” Continue Reading UPDATE: Oregon State Read More

Rep. Matt Manweller, CWU Professor, Ordered To Stay Away From Students Amid Investigation

By Austin Jenkins December 31, 2017

Washington state Republican Representative Matt Manweller. CREDIT: WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE Listen UPDATE, Dec. 29, 2017: Public records released by Central Washington University this week show professor and GOP state Rep. Matt Manweller is barred from contacting past or present students while the school investigates allegations of sexual harassment against Read More

Ex-Wife, Former High School Student Of Rep. Matt Manweller Now Calls Relationship ‘Inappropriate’

By Austin Jenkins December 10, 2017

OraLynn Reeve, the ex-wife of Matt Manweller, standing in her Duvall, Washington, home. WALKER ORENSTEIN/THE NEWS TRIBUNE Listen UPDATE, Dec. 11, 2017: Central Washington University has placed Matt Manweller on paid leave pending a university investigation. Read more. ———————————- Original Story: The Read More

Washington State Senator Wants To Ban Non-Disclosure Agreements For Sexual Harassment

By Austin Jenkins December 5, 2017

A bill introduced by Washington Sen. Karen Keiser would place limits on non-disclosure agreements. WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE Washington state Sen. Karen Keiser says she wants to encourage disclosure of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace. To that end, the Democrat introduced legislation December 4 that would place limits on non-disclosure agreements. Read More

Washington Senate Will Require Annual Sexual Harassment Training

By Austin Jenkins November 15, 2017

WSDOT/FLICKR Listen Beginning next year, Washington state Senators and Senate staff will be required to take annual sexual harassment training. The Senate’s operations committee unanimously approved that requirement at a meeting Tuesday night. Republican state Senator Joe Fain told his colleagues there needs to be immediate action to address the workplace climate at the Read More

Women See ‘Surge’ Opportunity To Address Sexual Harassment At State Capitol

By Austin Jenkins November 15, 2017

Kristina Hermach was an anonymous source for a 1992 story in The News Tribune on sexual harassment at the Washington state Capitol. Now she’s speaking out. AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK Listen In response to recent reports about sexual harassment at the Washington state Capitol, a state Senate committee voted Tuesday night to require… Read More

175 Women Sign Letter Calling For End To Sexual Harassment In Washington State Legislature

By Austin Jenkins November 6, 2017

Samantha Kersul is one of more than 170 women who have signed a letter to Washington state’s legislative leadership urging action to address sexual harassment at the Capitol. Kersul says she was forcibly kissed by a state lawmaker in 2009. AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK Listen More than 170 women who work or have… Read More

Women Speak Out, Name Names After Report On Sexual Harassment In State Capitol

By Austin Jenkins November 3, 2017

Samantha Kersul said in 2009 a Democratic state Representative pinned her and forcefully kissed her against her will in a bar. She is one of several women to speak out in recent days about sexual harassment at the Washington Capitol. AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK Listen It’s been an eventful and, for some, an… Read More

Legislative Leaders Respond To Report On Sexual Harassment In Washington Capitol

By Austin Jenkins November 1, 2017

AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK Listen Leaders in the Washington Legislature said they won’t tolerate sexual harassment, and encourage women to report unwanted attention from men. Those comments follow NWPR’s investigation with The News Tribune of Tacoma into the workplace climate at the state Capitol. NWPR’s reporting quoted current and former Read More

Women At Washington’s Capitol Say ‘Me Too’

By Austin Jenkins October 31, 2017

Nicole Grant says she was groped by a lawmaker and a lobbyist while working as a lobbyist in Olympia for electrical workers between 2010 and 2016. PAMELA WANG Listen Nicole Grant was excited when she arrived at the state Capitol in 2010 to lobby on behalf of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington. A journeyman… Read More