OSHA cites AB InBev alleging ‘serious’ US safety violations

An influential US Department of Labor safety body has cited Anheuser-Busch, alleging that the firm failed to protect Houston brewery workers from exposure to carbon dioxide and other workplace hazards. More on Beverage Daily. Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ABI:EN Brussels) INT, AHBIF, (NYSE: BUD), is a Global Compact participant since 2005/01/17.

Condemnation of Newspaper La Nacion for Abuse and Gender Discrimination [ES]

Argentinian media company La Nacion SA was ordered to compensate an employee with 583,821 pesos for failing to meet international standards on gender equality. The Court of the National Labour Chamber asked the newspaper to indemnify the employee for gender discrimination and harassment. The company did not comply with international occupational standards relating to gender equality in employment, the court said. More on UNO [Spanish]. S.A. La Nacion is a Global Compact participant since 2004/08/25.

Lawsuit alleges Merck discriminates against women

A Merck & Co. sales representative is suing the drugmaker for at least $100 million, saying Merck doesn’t give women equal opportunities for advancement and punishes employees for taking maternity leave. More on Boston.com Merck & Co., Inc. is a Global Compact participant since 2009/01/19. Merck(MRK:New York)(XNYS:MRK)(MRK) signed the CEO Statement of Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles.

Hundreds Die While Making Clothes for J.C. Penney, Benetton and others in Bangladesh

The hundreds in Bangladesh killed and injured from the building collapse last week were making clothes for American and European retailers and brands, including JCPenney and Benetton. More than 3,000 people, mostly young women, worked in the Rana Plaza building that contained five garment factories producing items for JCPenney, Cato Fashions, Benetton, Primark, Canada’s Joe Fresh, Walmart’s Canadian operation and others. More on All.gov. According to the Time,"A JCPenney official said that some of the Joe Fresh products being produced at Rana Plaza would have ended up in JCPenney stores". Read more: JCPenney (NYSE:JCP), (JCP:New York), (Ticker: JCP) is a Global Compact participant since 2009/01/14. JCPenney was a USD 10,000 contributor to the Foundation of the Global Compact in 2010, and 2009.

Fashion firm Zara accused of involvement in ’slave labor’ factories

According to Argentinian investigators, workers at factories which produce garments for fashion retailer Zara have been discovered in “degrading” sweatshop conditions. The workers — including children — were allegedly made to work 13-hour shifts, were not allowed to leave without permission, and were forced to work without breaks. More on Smartplanet. Zara is part of Spanish group Inditex, Industrias de Diseno Textil, S.A.,(ITX:Continuous), (ITX:SM), (ES:ITX) a Global Compact participant since 2001/09/19. Inditex was a Silver contributor to the Global Compact Foundation in 2012.

UNI calls on Deutsche Post DHL to stop anti-union behaviour

Global unions, including UNI, call for Deutsche Post DHL to stop union busting in Turkey after Courts rule workers’ dismissals unfair and linked to union activity. More on UNI Global Union website. Deutsche Post DHL (DPW:Xetra)(DPW:GR) is a Global Compact participant since 2006/07/20. It contributed as a Platinum member in 2011 (USD 10,000 +), and to USD 5,000 - USD 10,000 to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2009.

Air France fined in pro-Palestinian activist case

A French court has found Air France guilty of discrimination for removing a pro-Palestinian activist from a flight to Israel because she was not Jewish. The court also ordered the airline to pay 13,000 euros (£11,000; $17,000) in fines and damages. More on BBC. Air France (AF:EN Paris)(AF:EN Paris) (AF.PA) is a Global Compact participant since 2003/06/03.

Silicosis class action bid filed against Anglo American

Lawyers representing gold miners suffering from the deadly lung disease silicosis said on Thursday they had filed a class action lawsuit application against the South African arm of global mining giant Anglo American. More on Reuters. Also read previous post. Anglo American is a Global Compact participant since 2004/07/27. Anglo American plc was a 2010 Gold Contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact.

Temporary Worker Killed at Bacardi Bottling, OSHA Says Company Failed to Train

OSHA has cited Bacardi Bottling in Jacksonville, Fla., with willful and serious violations following the death of a temporary worker during his first day at work. Proposed penalties for the violations total $192,000. More on EHS Today. Another alternative source from the U.S. Departement of Labor. Bacardi Bottling is a subsidiary of Bermuda-based Bacardi Limited. Bacardi Limited(BACDA) is a Global Compact participant since 2008/07/28. Bacardi Limited was a Gold contributor (USD 10,000) to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2012 and 2011.

Komatsu fined $82,000 for 'serious violations' before worker death

Federal inspectors have charged Komatsu with safety violations and proposed an $82,000 fine in connection with a fatal workplace accident in August. More on pjstar.com Komatsu Ltd. (KMTUF)(KMTUY) is a Global Compact participant since 2008/11/07.

California sues oil company for environmental violations

State Attorney General Kamala Harris is going after Arco and its parent company BP. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the state attorney general and seven counties are accusing the oil company of violating regulations designed to protect the environment. More on ABC7 News. British Petroleum plc (NYSE:BP)(LSE:BP) (BP) is a Global Compact participant and founding father since 2000/07/26. BP Plc was also a Gold Contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2012.

Carrefour fined over unpaid breaks

SUPERMARKET chain Carrefour has been ordered to pay some of its staff for rest breaks, after a long legal battle in the north of France. Some 540 staff at local branches of Carrefour Market had taken their case to the appeal court, claiming that they were being paid less than the legal minimum wage once compulsory breaks were taken into account. More on The Connexion. Carrefour S.A. (CA.PA)(EPA:CA)(CA:EN Paris) has been a Global Compact participant since 2001/05/04.

Truck company fined for safety violations after forklift accident

The state [of North Carolina] has fined Daimler Trucks for safety violations following a forklift accident last summer. The Labor Department cited Daimler for one alleged serious violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina with a total penalty of $2,750. More on wbtv.com Daimler (DAI:Xetra) (DAI:GR) was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2008 and LEAD contributor in 2012.

Randstad US, LP to Pay $60,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Bias Suit

A large nationwide employment referral and placement services company will pay $60,000 and furnish substantial injunctive relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. More on the EEOC website. Randstad U.S. is a subsidiary of Randstad Holding, (RAND:EN Amsterdam) (AMS:RAND) (RAND.AS) a Global Compact participant since 2005/04/20.

Panamanians protest Canadian mining operations in rainforest areas

Panamanian farmers in the country's rainforest regions have teamed up with environmental activists to protest the impact of Canadian mining operations on the local environment, as well as halt the construction of what is slated to be one of the world's largest copper mines by Inmet Mining (TSX:IMN). More on mining.com Inmet Corporation is a Global Compact participant since 2008/11/03.

Wash. fines BP $81,500 for safety violations

Washington state has fined BP more than $80,000 for safety violations at the oil giant's Cherry Point refinery in Whatcom County. The Department of Labor & Industries announced Thursday that it fined BP for six violations, including a "willful violation," of workplace safety. More on Bloomberg. British Petroleum plc (NYSE:BP)(LSE:BP) (BP) is a Global Compact participant and founding father since 2000/07/26. BP Plc was also a Gold Contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2012.

Former France Telecom CEO indicted over 35 suicides

Former France Telecom chief executive Didier Lombard has been indicted by a court in Paris and bailed over allegations that he led a corporate culture of bullying and harassment that resulted in the suicide of at least 30 employees. More on GIAOM. France Telecom (FTE:EN Paris) is a Founding Father of the Global Compact and participant since 2000/07/26.

Sodexho fined $81K for violations at W.Va. college

Federal officials said Thursday they intend to fine Sodexho Inc. $81,000 for health and safety violations that occurred when workers were removing asbestos earlier this year at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi. More on Businessweek. Sodexo Inc, is a U.S. subsidiary of French giant Sodexo S.A.(SDXAY:OTC US),(SW:EN Paris), a Global Compact participant since 2003/03/06. Sodexo was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2010.

Shell, BASF ordered to pay $500 mln in Brazil pollution case

A Brazilian judge has ordered oil giant Shell and chemical behemoth BASF to pay $500 million in compensation for hundreds of ex-workers suing for damages in a suspected plant contamination case, a judicial source said Monday. More on France 24. Read older post. Royal Dutch Shell plc is a founding fathers of the U.N. Global Compact since 2000/07/26. Shell (RDSA:LSE) was a 'Platinum Contributor' of the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2010. BASF -BASF AG (ADR)-, BAS:Xetra is also a Founding Father of the Global Compact since 2000.

Lonmin Mine Death Toll Reaches 34 As Police Kill Strikers

South African police killed 34 striking workers at Lonmin Plc (LMI)’s Marikana platinum-mining complex yesterday, the worst death toll in police action since the end of apartheid in 1994. At least 78 people were injured in the clashes, Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega told reporters in Marikana in North West province today. More on Bloomberg. Lonmin plc is a Global Compact participant since 2008/08/22. Lomin plc (LMI:London) was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2011.