SAI Newsletter June 2010

Business for Democracy and ASBC Lead Effort to Overturn Citizens United v. FEC

The Business for Democracy Campaign, which the American Sustainable Business Council is spearheading in partnership with Free Speech for People is tackling the compelling issue of corporate contributions to political campaigns.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision on January 21, 2010 allows corporations to spend unlimited funds to support or oppose candidates for political office, overturning campaign finance laws in place for decades. The Business for Democracy campaign is an initiative of business leaders and their companies who believe this ruling is in direct conflict with American democratic principles and a serious threat to good government. The campaign supports the four members of the Supreme Court and the 80 percent of Americans who disagree with the decision (Washington Post poll, Feb. 17, 2010).

If you'd like your business to join this effort, you can sign the statement of support here or here.

SAI Newsletter June 2010

New Tools: Publication of “Measure and Improve Your Labor Standards Performance” Handbook
SAI & IFC Release their Practical Reference Book for the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation

“Measure & Improve Your Labor Standards Performance”

SAI is pleased to announce the publication of “Measure & Improve Your Labor Standards Performance,” a Handbook and Toolkit for the World Bank’s International Finance Corporate (IFC) Performance Standard 2 (PS2).

The Handbook and Toolkit, written and designed by SAI for all IFC- invested companies, is a practical reference book, and aims to provide an understanding of the fundamental management systems and internal staff capabilities required for improving the labor standards performance, both in a company and in its supply chain. Additionally, it provides a step-by-step guide to assist company management to develop or improve labor standards performance management systems.

The wealth of resources within the handbook was informed by SAI’s years of training experience in the field and work with leading companies on the use of management systems to improve labor standards performance in a company and its supply chain, and IFC’s experience in a broad range of industry sectors and countries worldwide. It features SAI’s process-based rating system to help companies measure and improve their performance. It aims to support senior management, as well as professionals in the human resources, compliance, and sourcing departments. Especially unusual is its wide applicability to companies in any industry.>> Learn more

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