SAN FRANCISCO, April 4 (AScribe Newswire) -- Citing persistent allegations and increasing evidence that Wal-Mart employees who exercise their right to freedom of association are subject to intimidation by management, a group of U.S. and Canadian socially concerned and faith-based shareholders led by As You Sow Foundation has asked Wal-Mart to address its history of violating fair labor laws in the United States and Canada.
"We are approaching you as shareholders concerned that Wal-Mart is establishing a track record opposing union drives in a manner that is inconsistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, core International Labor Organization standards, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Further and more troubling from a shareholder perspective, such actions by Wal-Mart could constitute violations of labor law in the United States and Canada, " the investor group said.
"We believe the time has come to focus investor concern on the labor practices of Wal-Mart," said Conrad B. MacKerron, Director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Program at As You Sow. "For many years shareholders have focused on ensuring that overseas suppliers of large US and Canadian companies treat their employees properly. Wal-Mart's poor record on freedom of association at its North American stores shows we also need to pay attention to the rights of workers closer to home."
The company has been accused of firing and spying on employees suspected of being sympathetic to unions, and conducting unlawful interrogation of its associates to intimidate and prevent them from organizing. Between 1998 and 2003, a total of 288 unfair labor practice charges were brought against the company, and 94 of these resulted in formal complaints against company by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, according to research by American Rights at Work. In 2000, Wal-Mart closed a Texas store's meat-cutting department soon after workers voted to form a union. In 2005, less than a year after workers in Jonquiere, Quebec voted to form a union, Wal-Mart closed the store. The Quebec Labour Relations Board ruled that Wal-Mart illegally dismissed store workers for union-related activities.
As You Sow has also filed a shareholder proposal with the company asking it to set a formal policy banning all intimidation of company employees for simply exercising their right to freedom of association.
"The right of employees to organize without fear of intimidation or reprisal is a basic right endorsed by the vast majority of U.S. companies in theory and practice," said Timothy Smith of Walden Asset Management, and President of the Social Investment Forum. Walden is a signatory to the letter. "In light of the wave of criticism Wal-Mart has faced, it is in its interest as well as Wal-Mart shareowners' interest to declare that the company will fully respect the right of employees to organize and operate accordingly."
Other signatories include The Ethical Funds Co. (Vancouver), Trillium Asset Management (Boston), Harrington Investments Inc. (Napa, CA), Program Unit for Church in Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Congregation Sisters of St. Agnes (WI), Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Adrian Dominican Sisters (MI) and Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.
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CONTACT: Conrad MacKerron, As You Sow, 415-391-3212
x31, mobile 510-761-7050
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