SOC Investment Group

The SOC Investment Group holds directors accountable for irresponsible and unethical corporate behavior and excessive executive pay. Founded in February 2006, the SOC Investment Group works with pension funds sponsored by unions affiliated with the Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of unions representing more than four million members, to enhance long-term shareholder returns through active ownership. Members of SOC affiliates participate in Taft-Hartley plans with over $250 billion in assets. The long-term health of these pension plans, and the retirement security of the workers and families who rely upon them, are threatened by conflicts of interest on Wall Street and in the boardroom, a corporate backlash that seeks to weaken the accountability of executives to shareholders, and outright corporate fraud. The Investment Group responds to these challenges by organizing workers’ capital into an effective voice for corporate accountability and retirement security. Shareholder activism can improve long-term performance– particularly those of worker funds that are broadly diversified across the whole market. In addition, activities intended to monitor or influence the management of portfolio companies are consistent with a fiduciary’s obligations under ERISA. The Investment Group, develops strategies and initiatives to support efforts by trustees and their pension funds to be responsible active owners. The Investment Group pays particular attention to major corporate transactions and contests for control because of the magnitude of shareholder value at stake and the fact that many past deals have destroyed such value. The SOC Investment Group believes active engagement by shareholders with company directors and executives at these critical junctures can help to prevent, or change the terms of, otherwise questionable transactions.