Page 192 - The Bible On Leadership

178 THE BIBLE ON LEADERSHIP

‘‘David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his
people.’’ (2 Sam. 8:15)
Levi-Strauss has been a strong force for economic and social justice.
They were one of the first companies to adopt a socially responsible
agenda, stemming all the way back to the San Francisco earthquake of
1906, when they continued the employees’ salaries even though they
were unable to produce anything.
More recently, Levi-Strauss has offered technical assistance to Ghetto
Enterprises, Inc., a small Oakland manufacturer whom they wanted to
use as a supplier. As with Ben & Jerry’s original experiment using Greys-
ton Bakeries as a supplier, the road was rocky, and ultimately the experi-
ment didn’t work. Peter Haas, CEO, doesn’t regret this ‘‘failed
attempt’’ at justice: ‘‘There are many times we stub our toe ...but
that’s not for want of trying.’’
Levi Strauss also monitors the treatment of its workers by suppliers
and contractors through its Global Sourcing Guidelines. It sends inspec-
tors to manufacturing facilities to see how they are being treated. As a
result, Levi Strauss has terminated business relationships with 5 percent
of its contractors and has required improvements (such as paying work-
ers the legally mandated wage or eliminating child and prison-based
labor) from 25 percent of the contractors. Says former CEO Walter
Haas, Jr.: ‘‘Each of us has the capacity to make business not only a
source of economic wealth, but also a force for economic and social
justice.’’
Levi Strauss has often ‘‘put its money where its mouth is,’’ making
financial sacrifices to assure fair treatment of non–U.S. citizens. In Ban-
gladesh and Turkey, contractors were using underage workers. Levi
Strauss had what looked like a difficult choice: either discontinue the
use of the contractor (in which case all the children would lose their
meager means of support) or continue to use a contractor who ex-
ploited child labor. Their solution was to have the contractors pay the
children’s salary while they attended school full-time; Levi Strauss paid
for the children’s books, tuition, and uniforms. When the children
reached working age and had been educated, they were again offered
jobs in the plant. 3