N. Ireland Joining S. Africa as Target of U.S. Stockholders

Northern Ireland is joining South Africa as a prime target of U.S. stockholders who use their proxies to press ethical and social justice issues, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility reported today.

As the spring round of company stockholder meetings moves into full swing, a survey by the Interfaith Center, an agency related to the National Council of Churches, said a record 21 resolutions relating to Northern Ireland are on the agendas of American companies.

That is an increase of four resolutions from the 1988 figure and it more than doubles the 10 presented in 1987, when concerns about Northern Ireland took a firm hold on church groups and pension funds, the major social responsibility investors.

Companies at which Northern Ireland resolutions have been or will be discussed during annual meetings include Dun & Bradstreet, American Home Products, Teleflex, Interface Flooring, Marsh & McLennan, McDonnell Douglas, American Brands, General Motors, United Technologies, Sonoco, AVX, Exxon, NYNEX, Xerox, Ball, DuPont, Fruehauf, Lockheed, VF, Boeing and Baker Hughes.