The AFL-CIO today stepped up its pressure on Fidelity Investments for increased disclosure of how the fund firm votes its proxies. The union led demonstrations at 19 Fidelity branch offices, including the Fidelity office in Washington, DC, according to Dow Jones News Service.

The demonstrations included chanting crowds ("Rich and rude, we don't like your attitude," was the chant of choice) and letters delivered to the branch managers. In Washington for example, Jos Williams, the president of the metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO branch, delivered the penned by AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka.

The union is making the demonstrations in support of a SEC proposed rule that would require fund firms to disclose how they vote the proxies for shares held in the funds. Fidelity Investments is the targets for the demonstrations because it often is the provider of the 401(k) plan of the AFL-CIO members, according to the union.  

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