11/15/2007
from the Kennebec Journal
Many students absent, but most not due to H1N1
Massacre could have been much worse
Nation's jobless rate reaches 10 percent
Attack 'outrageous,' says Augusta soldier stationed at Fort Hood
Old Man Winter: He's still got it
AUGUSTA Up the rails
Mace seeks repeat
Bobcats see similar team in title game
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
'The luckiest man in the world just left us'
Officials: Swine flu a small part of school absences
Veteran: Military 'gives you strength'
AFTER THE VOTE How to dispense pot to patients?
SUSPECT FOUND IN CLOSET
NEWPORT Police recover two firearms
State cross country titles up for grabs
H.S. GIRLS SOCCER Raiders try to crack West's title reign
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Joan Morin, of Whitefield, who was hired by Maine Education Association in 1996 as a labor advocate, claims a co-worker made demeaning comments about her gender "for many years" and the organization's executive director failed to stop it.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Kennebec County Superior Court by Morin's attorney, Walter McKee.
"Primarily, this discriminatory conduct has been perpetuated by MEA employee Keith Harvie," the lawsuit says.
Morin's lawsuit says Harvie "continuously undermined (Morin's) work product" and "cast derogatory statements as to her work and her gender."
It quotes statements allegedly made by Harvie: "I am an alpha male and you're an alpha female; we can't have both. I am top dog, not you. You're the only woman I know with balls."
Harvie did not respond to a message left on his office phone Wednesday afternoon.
W. Gary Kohlman of the Washington, D.C., law firm Bredhoff & Kaiser is representing the education association and denied the claims.
"On behalf of MEA, the allegations in the complaint have been thoroughly investigated and found to be without merit," Kohlman said Wednesday.
The complaint alleges Morin filed an internal complaint about Harvie in June 2006, which was investigated by a different lawyer with Bredhoff & Kaiser.
As a result of that investigation, Harvie was suspended for five days without pay.
Later, Morin's lawsuit says, that discipline was rescinded.
Morin claims gender discrimination, imposition of a hostile work environment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision. She seeks punitive damages from the association.
She also says she suffered retaliation -- a result of filing a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission in July 2006.
The complaint was not resolved there, and the commission issued a right-to-sue letter. The commission made no ruling on the matter, however.
"Joan Morin is a top-notch employee of MEA and is universally respected around the state for her incredible work on behalf of teachers and other school employees," McKee said in a press release.
"For her to have to endure this kind of treatment is unthinkable."
Morin has represented the Augusta teachers' union in grievances, contract negotiations, as well as teachers in School Administrative District 11, which educates students from Gardiner, Randolph, West Gardiner and Pittston.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
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Sounds like the time is ripe for a newer, more capable, and more politically nuetral organization to emerge. report abuse
Tim, even liberals and socially enlightened people can have harassment problems. It's just that we actually CARE about harassment issues unlike many conservatives who would deny that any harassment exists (except for those evil liberals taking the "Christ" out of Christmas)!
Brian, don't Republicans ever have similar problems? Let the political party without sin cast the first stone. I'm not condoning such alleged behavior by Keith Harvie, whom I know, but to say that it's because MEA is full of Democrats is like saying that all Republicans molest teenage pages in Congress.
Jesscia porridge -- it's NOT slander, and you need to have someone check your posts -- this is the most illiterate comment I've ever read on the Sentinel. I'm surprised that you can even READ the article.report abuse
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