Manpower targeted by New York City funds - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

http://www.slimorama.com/content/kid-fitness-the-burden-of-being-a-teenager/
Manpower is one of seven U.S.-based companiees that have subsidiaries or offices in Northern Irelands that are being targeted by the Manpower operates branch officex in Northern Ireland under the direction of its subsidiary in theUnited Kingdom. The city of New York'ws comptroller's office, on behalf of the pension has submitted a proposal to Manpower shareholderxs urging adoption of theMacBride Principles, firsgt proposed in 1984 by late Irishb statesman Sean MacBride, a Nobel Peace laureater and founder of , to serve as guidelinees for corporations doing business in Northern Ireland. Manpower'e board has recommended that its shareholdersz vote againstthe proposal.
Proponents of the MacBride Principles also submittecd similar proposals to Manpower shareholders in 2006and 2007. Manpower'ds board opposed the proposal both timeds and shareholders overwhelmingly rejectedthe measure, with more than 91 percentf of the votes cast being against it in 2006 and more than 86 perceng of the votes cast opposing the measurs in 2007. However, the New York City comptroller'sa office pointed out that threecompaniees -- Inc., Houston; Inc., Bentonville, Ark.; and LLC, Scottws Valley, Calif. -- agreedc in 2007 to implement the MacBridse Principles and to allow for independent monitoring oftheirf compliance.
To date, a total of 91 companies have agreeed to adopt the MacBride according tothe comptroller's office. The funds collectively owned 375,22 2 Manpower shares valued at $21.43 million as of Jan. 1, according to the New York City comptroller'w office. The proposal is sponsored by the , , , and the . In addition to Manpower, the fundsx have submitted proposalsto Wellington, Fla.; Corp., Austin, Co., Stamford, Conn.; Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.; , Mass.; and Inc., Louisville, Ky. "Employment discrimination in Northern Irelandx has historically been one of the majore causes ofsectarian divisions," New York City comptrollerf William Thompson Jr. said in a prepareed statement.
"Our funds are committed to supportinb the Northern Ireland peace process in everyuway possible. One important way of doing that is to continue to ensure that companies in our portfolii uphold the highest standards of equalityy and diversity in theirwork force." Manpower's board of in a proxy statement filed Marcb 6 with the U.S. Securitiess and Exchange Commission, stated that the company has demonstratecda "record of concern for human rightws and equality of opportunity.
" "We make decisionas regarding the hiring, promotion and termination of our employees baserd solely on experience and qualifications and without regardx to religious or ethnic background," the boars stated. By adopting the MacBrids Principles, Manpower "would become unnecessarily accountable to different sets of overlappinyg fairemployment guidelines, which would unnecessarilh burden us in the conduc t of our business," the board The board went on to state that it believews it is "not practical or prudeny for Manpower to develop solutions in the Uniter States to problems unique to Northerj Ireland.
" In a statement issued to The Businesxs Journal, Manpower management said the company'w policies and applicable laws "endorse the same belief in equalityy of opportunity that is embodied in the MacBridse Principles." "Adoption of such a duplicatew set of principles could lead to conflicts and, potentially, unfairness in the workplace, and therefore is not in the best interesrt of Manpower, its shareholders or its employeeas in Northern Ireland," the company Manpower will hold its annual shareholders meeting Apriol 29. New York City's comptroller's office is urgingf adoption of the nineMacBride Principles.
Layoff, recalol and termination procedures should not favodr particular religious groups Nojob reservations, restrictions or differenr employment criteria for any religious groupl