Four Northern Michigan University female professors are suing Northern Michigan University’s College of Business, claiming that they have suffered —quote— years of gender discrimination. The women claim that they are significantly underpaid compared with their male counterparts, and have been denied an equal opportunity for tenure and other benefits.
In a statement, Northern would not comment on the details of the lawsuit. But the university did say that it offered a meeting with a mediator and a possible settlement, but that was not agreed to. N-M-U says that faculty salaries are based on a negotiated formulas with the faculty union.
The following is a press release from the attorneys, obtained by Local Three News.
Bloomfield Hills-based law firm Sterling Attorneys at Law, P.C. is representing four female professors from Northern Michigan University’s College of Business who say they have suffered years of gender discrimination at the hands of college administrators.
The lawsuit, which is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleges that the College of Business significantly underpays its female faculty compared to their male counterparts and denies them equal opportunities for tenure and other benefits.
The professors’ attorney, Brian J. Farrar, stated, “Academic institutions like NMU play an important role in shaping future leaders. When the University refuses to follow gender equality laws, what kind of message does this send to its students?”
In a press release, Farrar writes, “Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has made closing the gender wage gap a priority of her administration and recently issued Executive Directive 10 requiring government institutions to do more to ensure women are paid fairly. The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is currently reviewing the findings of the EEOC and may also bring charges on its own.”
Farrar added, “Last year, the DOJ found that NMU discriminated against students with disabilities and the University agreed to pay thousands of dollars in damages, plus make changes to its campus procedures. It remains to be seen whether the University’s treatment of its female faculty members is part of a wider discriminatory practice.”
The following is a statement from NMU, obtained by Local Three News.
NMU received the complaint February 13, 2019 and is being reviewed by legal counsel. As a practice, NMU will not comment concerning details of pending litigation or personnel matters. NMU officials did recently attend a conciliation meeting with an EEOC mediator seeking to resolve the fair employment complaint.
The complainants disregarded the EEOC suggested parameters for a possible settlement and thus no agreement was made and the process continues. NMU hopes to work towards a resolution in a timely manner.
Faculty salaries are dependent upon credentials, degrees, teaching area, and research and are based upon negotiated formulas with the faculty union. NMU officials comply with the collective bargaining agreement.
