Greens want ethical option in state saving scheme
Green Party parliamentary staff are outraged that the Government hasn’t offered an ‘ethical investment’ option amongst the schemes it is touting to state employees.
Sunday, May 23rd 2004, 10:16PM
“All state employees are eligible to join one of these three schemes, with the Government offering a dollar-for-dollar subsidy up to one point five per cent of the employee’s salary, moving to three per cent in a year’s time,”
“If you are passionate about the environment, why would you join a super scheme that may have shares in a company that owns, say, the Exxon Valdez, the supertanker which caused the huge oil spill off the coast of Alaska.
“Why would you march on the streets against weapons of mass destruction, as we have done, and then invest in a superfund that has investments in weapons manufacturing?
“We are not just concerned with the fees and the rate of return. None of us want investments in tobacco, alcohol, weapons, fast food, sweatshop labour or prisons. We are simply not prepared to sell our souls.
“Other state employees I imagine also want these questions answered. How does the PSA, PPTA, NZEI and other unions covering state employees feel about all of this?
“It would also be nice to see a bigger stake in New Zealand investments. Why not have a fund supporting New Zealand-owned and operated industry and businesses that are keeping jobs in New Zealand for New Zealanders?” Bronwen Summers asks.
This is a press release from the Green Party
| « United Future 'delighted' with super group | Super Fund appoints small-cap equity managers » |
Special Offers
Commenting is closed
|
|
Printable version |
|
Email to a friend |
