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 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.”
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.
Tags: Advocacy
