Proxy Round-up: Key ESG shareholder proposals at US AGMs (May 5-17)

Duke Energy, May 5, Charlotte: Two sustainability-related proposals, on global warming lobbying and the continued reliance on coal. There’s also a request for majority voting for directors. Proxy
Goldman Sachs, May 5, New Jersey: Domini Social Investments is seeking a report disclosing the company’s political and trade association expenditures. Among other proposals are measures on climate change (a resolution lodged by the conservative National Centre for Public Policy Research is requesting a report on the business case for climate change risk) and executive pay. Proxy
Verizon, May 5, Indianapolis: The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ Pension Benefit Fund seeks cumulative voting in the contested election of directors. Proxy
Reynolds American, May 6, Winston-Salem, North Carolina: The tobacco giant is facing a shareholder proposal calling on it to commit to basic worker rights and supply chain monitoring. Proxy

Occidental Petroleum, May 6, Santa Monica: The New York City Comptroller on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund has tabled a resolution calling for the oil company to nominate a director with environmental expertise. The company is resisting, saying it already has a director who meets the requirements. Proxy

OM Group, May 10, Cleveland, Ohio: A group of church investors are calling on the chemicals firm to review its human rights policies, relating to its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Proxy
3M Co., May 10, St. Paul, Minnesota: Trillium has filed a resolution seeking a review of the conglomerate’s political contributions policy. Proxy
ITT, May 10, White Plains NY: Mercy Investment Services and others are calling for ITT’s human rights policies to conform with international standards. Proxy*Philip Morris International, May 11, New York:* The New York City Pension Funds and Retirement Systems are calling for the separation of the chairman and chief executive officer positions at the cigarette company. Proxy
PG&E Corp., May 11, San Ramon, California: Shareholder Ray Chevedden has tabled a motion calling for an independent board chairman. Proxy
ConocoPhillips, May 11, Houston: there are various shareholder proposals on gender identity, political contributions, lobbying, accident risk mitigation, environmental policy on the Louisiana Wetlands, greenhouse gas reduction targets, financial risk from climate change and Canadian oil sands. Proxy

Hospitality Properties Trust, May 11, Massachusetts: CalPERS has tabled a proposal for annual director elections. A similar CalPERS proposal at HPT’s 2010 meeting had 90% support. Proxy

Dominion Resources, May 12, Charlottesville, Virginia: Four sustainability-themed shareholder proposals, on mountaintop removal coal mining, renewable energy goals, the financial risks of continued reliance on coal and nuclear construction. There’s also a proposal calling for an independent chairman. Proxy

Community Health Systems, May 17, New York: CtW Investment Group is calling for shareholders to vote against the re-election of three CHS directors. CtW site

Anadarko, Texas, May 17: The New York City Fire Department Pension Fund and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System are calling on the firm to “amend its Code of Business and Ethics to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity”. Proxy
JP Morgan Chase, May 17, Columbus, Ohio: There are shareholder resolutions on political contributions and mortgage loan servicing. There’s also a motion on genocide-free investments. Proxy