Corporate Social Responsibility

"Independent" Labor Report on McDonald's Puréed in Tomatoland

by Jonathan Rosenblum — May 19, 2006 - 10:32am

When does an independent labor advocacy group's work turn into corporate PR? The Connecticut-based Center for Reflection, Education and Action (CREA) finds itself right on the line. CREA recently announced partial results of a study of Florida tomato suppliers, crediting one McDonald's supplier with exceeding industry best practices, including pay sometimes higher than $18 an hour.

Main Source: 
Center for Reflection, Education and Action, April 19, 2006

Ex-Prez Rapped as Flack for Soda Jerks

by Jonathan Rosenblum — May 18, 2006 - 8:15am

The deal already looks suspiciously sweetened. On May 3, 2006, U.S. beverage firms announced an agreement with the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association gradually to pull most sweetened soft drinks from U.S. schools.

Main Source: 
Informed Eating, May, 2006

Corporations Told Actions More Important than Words

by Bob Burton — March 3, 2006 - 3:04am

Australian social researcher Hugh Mackay has little time for companies that try to use corporate social responsibility as a PR and marketing tool. "Nothing diminishes virtue like trying to draw other people’s attention to it. You’re a good corporate citizen? Get on with it, then, don’t brag about it," he said in a speech launching a fundraising campaign for a non-profit disability group.

Main Source: 
Ethical Investor, March 2, 2006

Is Fair Trade Coffee a Quick Corporate Fix?

by Bob Burton — February 23, 2006 - 12:44am

Writing in the newsletter of the Minneapolis-based Wedge Co-op, Rodney North warns that the token use of fair trade certification can "prematurely undermine the public pressure for real change." North points to a web-based survey by U.K.-based Baby Milk Action, which asked supporters what they thought of the fair trade certification of Nestlé's Partners Blend coffee.

Main Source: 
Wedge Co-Op Newsletter, February/March 2006

Playing FTSE with Social Responsibility

by Diane Farsetta — February 21, 2006 - 4:44pm

"Nearly a fifth of the UK's top public companies are still failing to deliver comprehensive reports detailing the economic, environmental and social impact of their business," reports Andy Favell for The Independent. Analyses have found corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports from 18 of the British companies on the FTSE 100 Index to be inadequate.

Main Source: 
The Independent (UK), February 19, 2006

Corporate Ads Grow Greener

by Laura Miller — January 18, 2006 - 6:17pm

"The 'green' advertising wave is on, as companies from Ford to General Electric to BP blitz the airwaves with concern for a clean planet," the International Herald Tribune reports.

Main Source: 
International Herald Tribune, January 18, 2006

You Don't Deserve Labor Rights Today

by Diane Farsetta — December 20, 2005 - 2:23pm

After its protests "forced Taco Bell to pay tomato pickers a penny more per pound," the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) started "pressuring McDonald's for a similar agreement." Instead, McDonald's joined the "Socially Accountable Farm Employer (SAFE) voluntary certification program." Launched in November 2005, SAFE is run by board members of the industry group Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and

Main Source: 
AlterNet / The NewStandard, December 20, 2005

Socially Responsible Union Busting

by Bob Burton — November 11, 2005 - 2:44am

The global mining giant Rio Tinto is lobbying the Australian government to amend draft legislation to ensure individual common law agreements with its workers override collectively bargained labor awards and certified agreements.

Main Source: 
Australian Financial Review, November 11, 2005 (sub req'd)
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