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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., acting on behalf of the New York City Pension Funds, has filed shareholder resolutions asking six companies to adopt sustainability reporting guidelines to disclose social and environmental practices.

“Transparency and dialogue about sustainability are elements of business success, and disclosure of a company’s efforts to achieve sustainability will accrue benefits to the company and shareholders in the long-term,” Thompson said. “Companies that are good employers, environmental stewards, and corporate citizens are more likely to be accepted in their communities and to prosper.”

The proposals were submitted on behalf of the: New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS), Teachers' Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS), New York City Police Pension Fund, New York City Fire Department Pension Fund, and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System (BERS).

“Sustainability is now broadly understood as strategic business development and performance that meets present needs without endangering future generations,” Thompson said. “In these tough economic times, it is vital that company management share with investors their strategic plans for sustainable and profitable growth.”

Shareholder resolutions dealing with sustainability reporting were submitted to the following companies: Apple Inc of Cupertino, CA; Boeing Co. of Chicago, IL; Boston Properties of Boston, MA; Marriott International, Inc. of Washington, DC; MGM Mirage of Las Vegas, NV; and Safeway Inc. of Pleasanton, CA.

Collectively, the Pension Funds own more than 8 million shares of common stock in the six companies.

The resolution can be viewed at www.comptroller.nyc.gov.

The Pension Funds and Thompson want the companies to issue the sustainability reports discussing the company’s definition of sustainability, as well as a company-wide review of company policies, practices and indicators related to measuring long-term social and environmental sustainability. Thompson wants the reports to be completed by June 30, 2010.

“Implementation of sustainability reporting by these companies will demonstrate their dedication to building their reputation and social acceptance,” Thompson said.

The New York City Pension Funds have been at the fore of shareholder activism in pressuring many of America’s largest companies to improve workplace conditions, protect the environment, promote human rights abroad, and adhere to accepted corporate governance standards.

Besides Thompson, the Pension Funds’ trustees are:

NYCERS: New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark (Chair); New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum; Borough Presidents Scott Stringer (Manhattan), Helen Marshall (Queens), Marty Markowitz (Brooklyn), Adolfo Carrion (Bronx), and James Molinaro (Staten Island); Lillian Roberts, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Roger Toussaint, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and, Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

TRS: New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark (Chair); Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, New York City Department of Education; and, Sandra March, Melvyn Aaronson and Mona Romain, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

New York City Police Pension Fund: Mayor Michael Bloomberg; New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark; New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly (Chair); Patrick Lynch, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association; Michael Palladino, Detectives Endowment Association; Edward D. Mullins, Sergeants Benevolent Association; Thomas Sullivan, Lieutenants Benevolent Association; and, Roy T. Richter, Captains Endowment Association.

New York City Fire Department Pension Fund: Mayor Michael Bloomberg; New York City Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta (Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark; Stephen Cassidy, President, James Slevin, Vice President, Robert Straub, Treasurer, and John Kelly, Brooklyn Representative and Chair, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York; John Dunne, Captains’ Rep.; John J. McDonnell , Chiefs’ Rep., and James J. McGowan, Lieutenants’ Rep., Uniformed Fire Officers Association; and, Joseph Gagliardi, Marine Engineers Association.

BERS: Mayoral appointees Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Alan Aviles, Philip Berry, David Chang, Tino Hernandez, Edison O. Jackson, Richard Menschel and Marita Regan; Patrick Sullivan (Manhattan), Wendy Gilgeous (Brooklyn), and Joan Correale (Staten Island); and employee members Joseph D'Amico of the IUOE Local 891 member and Milagros Rodriguez of District Council 37, Local 372.

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