Norway Settles Minnesota Pay Dispute

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Norway will pay a former employee at its Minneapolis consulate nearly $2 million, settling a long-running dispute over gender pay equity.

The Norwegian government had been ordered to pay Ellen Ewald $2.1 million after a judge ruled the Scandinavian country violated Minnesota law by paying Ewald $30,000 less than a male counterpart. The Star Tribune reports Norway has agreed to pay $1.9 million to Ewald and her attorneys.

Ewald was hired at the consulate in 2008. Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who was honorary consul general for Norway at the time, testified that he agreed to Ewald's salary but fought unsuccessfully to raise it after she objected.

Ewald and others hailed the agreement. Norwegian officials maintain they were justified paying Ewald less.