Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world by market cap and the second-largest employer in the U.S. Over the past several years, shareholders, including ICCR members, have been pressing the company to implement policies that will mitigate the risks of any adverse environmental and social impacts from both its direct operations and via its business relationships and vast and diverse global supply chain.
Although Amazon has been one of the top recipients of shareholder proposals for several years, in the majority of instances and to the frustration of investors, the company has remained reticent to engage with shareholders about their concerns and consistently opposes all ESG-related proposals submitted for its proxy.
Amazon’s annual meeting is on Wednesday, May 22 at 9 am Pacific and there are multiple proposals raising serious ESG concerns on the proxy. Details regarding these proposals including contact information for the proponents should you wish to learn more about them, can be found at below
Item 6 on the proxy. Proposal: Customer Due Diligence. Lead Proponent: American Baptist Home Mission Society. Read the exempt solicitation. For more information, contact Aaron Acosta at: aacosta at iasj.org
VIDEO: Statement of support from Laith Abad, software engineer at Amazon Games
“We focus on the material business implications of recent events of human rights risks in light of credible and legitimate international human rights standards, civil rights laws, and United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, irrespective of the players involved. It’s high time Amazon addresses investor concerns head-on. Neglecting the risks of technology misuse by various state actors, including police departments, federal agencies, and foreign entities, constitutes a breach of corporate and fiduciary responsibility for both Amazon and its shareholders.”
— Gina Haas, Director of Investments of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS)
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Item 7 on the proxy. Proposal: Lobbying Expenditures Disclosure. Lead Proponent: The Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order Corporate Responsibility Office. For more information, contact Br. Robert Wotypka at: rwotypka at cskdetroit.org
AUDIO: Investor statement from Br Robert Wotypka of the Province of St. Joseph
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Item 8 on the proxy. Proposal: Gender and Racial Pay Gap. Lead Proponent: Stanley Monroe and Laurie Carson, represented by Arjuna Capital. For more information, contact Julia Cedarholm at: juliac at arjuna-capital.com
AUDIO: Investor statement from Joan Morris, a worker at the Amazon ATL6 sortation center in Atlanta, GA
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Item 11 on the proxy. Proposal: Report on Packaging Materials. Lead Proponent: PCR Children’s TR FBO Ellen, represented by As You Sow. For more information, contact Conrad MacKerron at: mack at asyousow.org
AUDIO: Investor statement from Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President of As You Sow
“Amazon’s non-recyclable plastic mailers contribute significantly to plastic pollution. It lags competitors Walmart and Target by not committing to make all packaging recyclable by a set date, and by not setting a plastic use reduction goal. Reducing Amazon’s plastic packaging and making it recyclable are necessary steps to combat the plastic pollution crisis. Our Company is overdue on taking action on this important issue.”
–Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President, As You Sow
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Item 12 on the proxy. Proposal: Freedom of Association. Lead Proponent: Catherine Donnelly Foundation, represented by the Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE). For more information, contact Sarah Couturier-Tanoh at: scouturier-tanoh at share.ca
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Item 13 on the proxy. Proposal: Alternative Emissions Reporting/Scope 3 Emissions. Lead Proponents: Green Century Capital Management and Longview Largecap 500 Index Fund. For more information, contact Annie Sanders at: asanders at greencentury.com
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Item 14 on the proxy. Proposal: Rekognition. Lead Proponent: John Harrington. For more information, contact Brianna Harrington at: brianna at harringtoninvestments.com
“Our concerns still remain about the potential human and civil rights risks Amazon’s facial recognition technology “Rekognition” poses, since the company has refused our request to commission a truly independent, third-party assessment. This marks our sixth year introducing the resolution, and we hope an increase in shareholder support will push Amazon to finally take the necessary action.”
— Brianna Harrington, Harrington Investments
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Item 16 on the proxy. Proposal: Board Committee on Artificial Intelligence. Lead Proponent: AFL-CIO Equity Index Funds, represented by Segal Marco Advisors. For more information, contact Brandon Rees at: brees at aflcio.org
AUDIO: Investor statement from Isaiah Thomas of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
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Item 17 on the proxy. Proposal: Warehouse Working Conditions. Lead Proponent: Thomas Dadashi Tazehozi, represented by Tulipshare Capital LLC. For more information, contact Constance Ricketts at: constance@tulipshare.com
AUDIO: Statement of support from Elvis Gallardo who works at an Amazon delivery station in the Bronx
AUDIO: Investor statement from Constance Ricketts, Director of Stewardship & Engagement at Tulipshare
“Tulipshare’s Proposal 17 – requesting an independent audit of the working conditions and treatment that Amazon workers face – provides a necessary step to resolving the company’s ongoing injury crisis. Amazon’s oppressive surveillance and demanding quotas have led to inordinately high turnover rates, highlighting systemic issues in job design and safety practices and resulting in an unsustainable business model. In 2023 alone, there were 38,348 recordable injuries at Amazon facilities; and the vast majority (94% or 36,170) of those were serious light duty or lost time injuries, meaning workers were hurt so badly that they were either unable to perform their regular job functions (light duty) or forced to miss work entirely (lost time). An independent audit will ensure transparency, compliance with regulations, and better worker safety. Shareholders have the opportunity to support Proposal 17 in an effort to promote accountability and responsibility while ensuring the long-term success of Amazon.”
— Constance Ricketts, Director of Stewardship & Engagement at Tulipshare
The post The 2024 Amazon Proposals first appeared on Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.