Whereas, NYSUT has been historically committed to the defense of human, civil and labor rights as well as the promotion of social justice both at home and abroad; and

Whereas, NYSUT members in higher education generally have the option of selecting TIAA-CREF as their retirement plan, and the decision, made within the first month of full-time employment, is irrevocable; and

Whereas, NYSUT has continuously demonstrated its opposition to low-wage, non-unionized labor; and

Whereas, NYSUT has consistently informed its members and the public at-large regarding the unfair labor practices of many corporations currently included in TIAA-CREF’s stock portfolio (e.g. Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Nike and others) and whose Third World suppliers routinely ignore workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain; and

Whereas, a significant number of NYSUT’s members in higher education have their pensions invested in TIAA-CREF; and

Whereas, NYSUT members are also investors and pensioners with social commitments that come with financial involvements; and

Whereas, TIAA-CREF prides itself on being sensitive to the concerns which investors express about socially responsible investment policies; and claims to endorse and engage in corporate accountability; and

Whereas, TIAA-CREF’s Social Choice Account, though a more responsible investment alternative because it excludes companies that derive their revenue from alcohol, tobacco, firearms, gambling, military weaponry and electric utilities that own interests in nuclear power plants, does not exclude corporations that insufficiently promote labor rights both at home and abroad; therefore be it

Whereas, TIAA-CREF’s Social Choice Account only excludes companies that derive their revenue from alcohol, tobacco, firearms, gambling, military weaponry or have interests in nuclear power plants but does not exclude companies with violations of workers rights; and

Whereas, these socially responsible retirement investment options include many financially successful funds; therefore be it

Resolved, that NYSUT recognizes that its members who participate in TIAA-CREF should be offered the option of socially conscious investments that include options that screen for companies’ labor policies as well as other social criteria; and

Resolved, that NYSUT on behalf of its membership encourages TIAA-CREF’s directors and trustees to substantially strengthen their corporate oversight of companies in which it invests; and be it further,

Resolved, that NYSUT encourages TIAA-CREF’s new office of Social and Community Investing to refine its Social Choice Account so that it contains an explicit, clearly monitored and widely publicized labor rights screen that rules out the inclusion of companies, both in the United States and abroad, that conduct anti-union intimidation campaigns, refuse to bargain collectively, do not pay a living wage and don’t offer minimal health and retirement benefits; and be it further

Resolved, that NYSUT encourage TIAA-CREF’s office of Social and Community Investing to offer new options that include companies with strong records in workers’ rights, community development and environmental issues; and be it further

Resolved, that NYSUT communicate its interest in a socially conscious investment policy that includes labor screening to the TIAA-CREF President and Chief Executive Officer, the Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, the Head of Corporate Governance, the Director and Managing Director of Social and Community Investing and the Board of Trustees and ask for a response within three months of this NYSUT RA convention.