USW accuses DuPont of hypocrisy as partner in "Living Tomorrow" display

Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Zone : Skills and productivity
Published : 25 Jan 2007 21:31

Nashville, Tennessee – January 25, 2007 - The United Steelworkers (USW), the largest industrial union in the North America, today warned persons attending the Living Tomorrow exhibition in Brussels, Belgium not to be fooled by DuPont’s “greenwashing” and attempt to demonstrate that it practices genuine environmental sustainability. DuPont is a key partner in the exhibition.

“We believe that DuPont is trying to fool the European public into believing that it is pro-environment, but DuPont’s actual record indicates the opposite,” said Ken Test, Chairman of the USW Dupont Council. The USW represents 1,800 workers at six plants in the U.S.

DuPont's data says quite the opposite. The chemical giant has in the past accused USW of gross exaggeration, and being alarmist about non-harmful chemicals.

The USW has criticized DuPont for its continued production of Teflon-related chemicals, contamination of water supplies, its poor health and safety record, and hostility to labor unions in the U.S. and Brazil. A fact-finding mission by the USW to Brazil revealed what it calls "glaring exceptions to the company’s so-called environmental sustainability principles."

Inthe past, the USW has called upon the United Nations to remove DuPont from the Global Compact, which comprises companies who have volunteered to adhere to environmental, human, and labor rights principles. The UN has thusfar declined.

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