AAUW CHAPTER AND NWHM HONOR THE REAL WOMEN OF "NORTH COUNTRY"

In April 2006, the Hibbing, Minnesota, chapter of the American Association of University Women held a ceremony honoring the women workers at Eveleth Mines who filed the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit. Their story became the basis for the 2005 movie North Country. NWHM President Susan Jollie wrote a letter commending their efforts and the letter was read at the ceremony and each woman received a copy. Each woman was presented with a NWHM button with the quote, " Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History."

BACKGROUND ON THE CLASS ACTION SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST EVELETH MINES
(Provided by Stephanie Carlson of the AAUW Chapter in Hibbing, Minnesota)

Northern Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range is home to the largest Iron ore deposit in the world.  Since red iron ore was discovered in 1890 by the Merritt brothers, men have toiled in the iron mines, that is until 1974 when 9 of the country’s largest steel companies signed a consent decree with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Labor Department requiring the industry’s mines to provide 20% of its new jobs to women and minorities.  And in 1975 four women walked into the Eveleth Mines Forbes Fairlane Plant for the first time.  Among these women was a 27-year-old single mother named Lois Jenson. Read more....

Three of the honorees with two AAUW branch staff at the
"Women in North Country, Their Story and Their Legacy" event:

L-R: Marcy Steele, Jan Carey (AAUW Branch President), Audrey Daniels,
Diane Hodge and Stephanie Carlson (AAUW Branch Public Policy Chair)
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Carlson

SUSAN JOLLIE'S LETTER TO THE EVELETH MILL WOMEN ON BEHALF OF THE NWHM

The National Women’s History Museum is pleased to join with the Hibbing, Minnesota, branch of the American Association of University Women in honoring Lois Jenson and her fellow plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit that established important legal precedents on sexual harassment in the workplace. These courageous women initially had very modest goals, but their struggle ultimately improved the working conditions of women nationwide. The women who banded together to challenge the hostile environment at the Eveleth Mines are part of a long and proud tradition of women who have made America a better place to live. Read more...

 

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