The Cummins board of directors on March 17 decided to suspend all commercial operations in Russia indefinitely as the attacks on Ukraine intensify and a peaceful resolution does not appear imminent.
“We are now taking steps to wind down operations expeditiously,” said a short statement from Cummins, which joined almost 370 Western or U.S.-based businesses that have shut down operations in Russia. Those names include McDonald’s, Adidas, ADP, Bridgestone Tire, Cisco, Colgate, DirecTV, Halliburton, Honeywell, Ikea, Levi Strauss, Raytheon Ricoh, Rolls Royce, Samsung, and Starbucks.
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“Our primary concern has been and remains the safety and well-being of those whose lives have been affected by this alarming situation,” the Cummins statement said. “We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian government, which is putting millions of innocent people at risk and turning millions of Ukrainian citizens into refugees. That concern also extends to our 700 employees and thousands of end-user customers in Russia and the impact on citizens who are not participants in this invasion.”
Cummins went on to say in the statement that the decision was a difficult one for the company’s employees, communities, and its customers.
“We have deep care and concern for our employees and are making every effort to minimize the impact on them. We are evaluating the best ways to support our employees during this difficult time in accordance with local laws and regulations,” the March 17 statement said.
“We have quickly mobilized our employees and resources to aid communities in the region. To provide immediate assistance for short-term emergency refugee needs, Cummins is starting with $250,000 in fast-tracked grants. In addition, employees are volunteering themselves. We are actively working with community organizations, especially in Romania and Poland, to determine how we can assist as the refugees arrive in new communities.”
Cummins employees around the world are also working with our grant-making partner GlobalGiving, which has launched a Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, according to the statement. All donations to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund will support humanitarian assistance in communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled.
