Phone:	1+720-332-1000> (type "0" for operator, then ask for Christina Gold)
Email:	christina.gold@westernunion.com
Fax:	1+720-332-4761

Immigrants Push Western Union to Share the Wealth

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09 de mayo de 2007 | La Opinion

Friday May 11 2007 | The Nation

May 14 2007 | American Banker

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Press Release

Today, we’re putting Western Union and the multi-billion dollar remittances industry on notice: the days of taking advantage of our love are numbered. We’re giving Western Union, as the undisputed leader of this industry, 100 days to adopt our key demands to reduce their fees, provide a fair exchange rate, and commit to community reinvestment.

These are the central provisions of TIGRA’s Transnational Community Benefits Agreement that reflects the hopes and aspirations of remitters and their families worldwide.

We’ve convened representatives from 15 cities in the US, and from migrant groups/networks from the Philippines, Mexico, and Europe to personally deliver this message to Western Union’s Board of Directors, because our previous attempts to engage them have not been productive.

• On September 15, 2006, after more than 51 organizations from eight countries discussed, refined, and adopted the TCBA, TIGRA sent a copy to Western Union seeking their response. We never got one.
• In late November, 2006, working with NorthStar Asset Management and United for a Fair Economy/Responsible Wealth, we submitted a Shareholder Resolution that directs Western Union to study the impact of its policies and practices on low-income immigrant communities. Western Union’s response was to challenge this shareholder proposal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• We gave them another chance to value transparency over secrecy and asked them to retract their challenge and allow this modest proposal to go through. Western Union chose to ignore our plea. By late March, 2007, the SEC ruled in favor of the challenge.

So we’re here in New York City on Mother’s Day to impress upon Western Union that a remittance, to us, is not just a financial transaction, it is an expression of love. It sustains our families and communities, and it signifies the sacrifice and resilience of women that’s at the core of this campaign.

We urge Western Union, and the rest of the industry, to give a meaningful gift to millions of mothers and families worldwide. Reduce your fees. Set a fair exchange rate. Commit $1 per transaction to a community reinvestment fund to directly benefit our communities. Our families deserve nothing less.