RTC Confirms Harassment Complaints From Women : Government: At a rally outside its Newport Beach office, protesters accuse it of allowing discrimination and retaliating against complainants.

Several women have filed complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination against a supervisor at the California office of the federal Resolution Trust Corp. here, accusing the man of propositioning them, making vulgar comments, spreading rumors that they are lesbians, and denying them pay raises given their male counterparts.

Officials at the RTC, which was started in 1989 to sell or liquidate assets from failed savings and loans, said Wednesday that the complaints are being investigated and that no action has been taken yet. Some of the complaints are 2 years old, an attorney for the women said.

The confirmation of the complaints came as members of the National Organization for Women and the women’s legal representatives staged a rally in front of the RTC’s Newport Beach office. They charged that the federal agency has permitted discrimination, failed to resolve complaints about it, kept its investigation secret and retaliated against those who complained.

RTC officials in Newport Beach said they will meet today with NOW representatives to discuss the allegations.

Several dozen men and women who work at RTC stopped at the lunchtime rally, many donning white ribbons to support the women and nodding their heads as NOW members spoke about sexual harassment.

Protesters held placards saying: “RTC: Retaliates, Terrorizes, Criticizes Women,” “Sexual Harassment is a Hate Crime” and “Hillary, Please Help Us” as they called on the Clinton Administration to change the procedures for reporting harassment in the federal government and to appoint a more progressive leader for the RTC.

“The federal government and the RTC must protect women from the sexual terrorism that is occurring within its walls,” said Tamara Mason of NOW’s Bayview chapter. “It must stop! The federal government cannot be a safe haven for people that think they can get away with inappropriate behavior.”

John Lewis, an attorney, said he has assisted at least seven women working in the local RTC office--including four middle managers--in filing complaints.

RTC officials in Washington said Wednesday that three sex-related complaints have been filed from the Newport Beach office since January but could not confirm how many are pending from previous years.

Lewis said his clients suffer from rampant harassment and are forced to take on additional workloads without being promoted or paid extra. He refused to identify the women, citing the RTC’s confidentiality rules and the women’s fear of being fired.

Several employees who reported the problem have been disciplined, including one woman who has received two written reprimands and believes that she may soon lose her job, Lewis said.

At the rally, Dave Carr, who said his wife has been denied a $10,000 raise despite her expanded job duties, joined NOW members in criticizing the government.