Council Supports and Rejects Stockholder Resolutions
Diocesan Press Service. February 19, 1975 [75069]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church has voted to support a stockholder resolution asking for "a full written report " on the " strip mining activities in Appalachia " by the Pittston Company, but voted against supporting a stockholder resolution requesting a social audit report from General Motors.
The strip mining resolution, filed by the Sisters of St. Dominic and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, asks the Pittston Company "to issue a full written report four months after the date of the annual meeting to the shareholders on the corporation's strip mining activities in Appalachia. "
The resolution asks the company to provide specific information concerning its policy in order that it might be determined whether there is an adverse effect on the health and welfare of the Appalachian people and their environment.
A second resolution called for the support of a resolution to be filed with General Motors by the Project on Corporate Responsibility, Inc.
That resolution requests General Motors "to undertake an independent social audit of the Corporation, " to be made available to stockholders no later than July 4, 1976. Included in the report are to be GM's "policies and practices " in such areas as fuel conservation, pollution control, equal employment, consumer service, pricing, competitive matters, and foreign investments and involvements.
Joseph I. Worsham of Dallas, Tex., said that "it's a cop-out to ask General Motors to do these things since we don't do them ourselves." The majority of the Council members present and voting seemed to agree, since the resolution was defeated 12-9.