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Shareholder Advocacy with Moxy Vote

For more than a decade, UUSC has used its role as an investor and shareholder to promote responsible corporate behavior. Shareholder advocacy — while it may not sound exciting — can be incredibly powerful. UUSC actively engages in these efforts through partnerships with other organizations and companies, corporate dialogue, and shareholder resolutions on company proxy ballots.

UUSC has submitted several resolutions regarding environmental initiatives. Specifically, the resolutions have focused on sustainability reporting at C.R. Bard, Emerson Electric, and St. Jude Medical. UUSC has also submitted hydraulic-fracturing resolutions at Chevron and ExxonMobil.

To promote these resolutions and encourage stock-holding members to vote accordingly, UUSC is collaborating with friends at Moxy Vote. A free online proxy-voting platform, Moxy Vote allows shareholders like you to vote on proxy ballots electronically. In addition to voting on your ballots easily online, you can align your votes with UUSC and encourage public companies to change their business practices.

How MoxyVote Works


UUSC encourages its members to support its shareholder advocacy work by registering with Moxy Vote and voting with us on these important issues. In addition to promoting UUSC's shareholder advocacy initiatives, you can earn money for UUSC by simply registering; Moxy Vote will make a donation to UUSC for every user who signs up and supports us on their site.

Interested in learning more? Register and check out our Moxy Vote page. Keep an eye out for future e-mails, blog posts, and Facebook updates about our progress. Thanks for your support!

For additional questions or comments, please contact Kara Smith at UUSC or Jessica Clarke at Moxy Vote.

Status of resolutions co-filed by UUSC in 2012

  1. Political Spending — response to Citizens United ruling. Calls on corporations to review policies and oversight processes related to political spending and public policy, both direct and indirect including through trade associations, and present a summary report by September 2012.
    • IBM: Review and disclosure of any direct and indirect expenditures supporting or opposing candidates, for issue ads designed to affect political races, including dues and special payments made to trade associations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  2. Sustainability reporting describing the company’s environmental, social, and governance business practices (co-filed with Walden Asset Management)
    • Emerson Electric: vote on Feb 7, 2012 received 35.28% which is a slight increase over last year.
    • C.R. Bard: will be voted on later this spring.
  3. Hydraulic Fracturing: Community Impacts: — Shareholders request that the Board of Directors prepare a report to investors by September 2012, at reasonable cost and excluding confidential or legally prejudicial data, on the short-term and long-term risks to Chevron Corporation’s operations, finances and gas exploration associated with community concerns, known regulatory impacts, moratoriums, and public opposition to hydraulic fracturing and related natural gas development.
    • ExxonMobil: vote in late spring 2012 (co-filed with As You Sow).
    • Chevron Corp: vote in late spring 2012 (co-filed with Sisters of St. Francis).

Status of resolutions co-filed by UUSC in 2011

  1. Sustainability reporting describing the company’s environmental, social, and governance business practices (co-filed with Walden Asset Management)
    • Emerson Electric: voting has closed; there was a strong vote for our Sustainability Reporting Resolution, 34%.
    • St. Jude Medical: They agreed to issue the sustainability report that our co-filed shareholder resolution requested after a 44% vote last year. Furthermore, they have agreed to enter into a dialogue with shareholders as their process moves forward. As a consequence, the resolution was withdrawn.
    • C.R. Bard: The Sustainability Reporting Resolution received 28%.
  2. Hydraulic Fracturing: Toxic Chemicals — Requests for an examination of long-term effects of toxic chemicals used in the process and the impact on the environment and communities by using the hydraulic fracking method of drilling for natural gas.
    • ExxonMobil: vote in spring/summer 2011 (co-filed with As You Sow) received 28.2% vote
    • Chevron Corp: vote in spring/summer 2011 (co-filed with Sisters of St. Francis) received 41% vote
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