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Telefonica last week released its 2009 report on its performance in relation to corporate social responsibility.



The report addresses issues such as climate change and other environmental concerns, various philanthropic projects the company supports, training for employees and health and safety.



The report also explains that Telefonica is a participant in the UN Global Compact initiative and that the company “actively supports” the Millenium Development Goals which seek to fight global poverty.



However, these claims are made against a continuing background of the company’s refusal to respect basic labour rights for thousands of its employees.



Telefonica’s O2 workers in Ireland are still battling a hostile management for union recognition. In Latin America, Telefonica’s Atento employs over 100,000 workers, many of whom are denied the right to form or join a trade union and to collectively bargain. 35 union leaders wrote to Telefonica’s CEO in January 2009 to raise these and other issues regarding workers’ rights and yet these problems have not been resolved more than six months later.