Amazon seeks to block shareholder proposals on hate speech, diversity, workplace conditions and surveillance tech

Amazon has asked federal regulators to block a number of shareholder proposals that strike at the heart of many recent criticisms of the Seattle-based commerce behemoth, including its stances on curbing hate speech and offensive content, diversity in hiring, workplace conditions for hourly warehouse employees and its surveillance technologies.

Companies often ask the SEC for permission to drop shareholder proposals they see as needless meddling into day-to-day business, and Amazon is no exception.

According to letters filed Tuesday with the SEC, Amazon is now requesting the regulator block shareholder proposals asking the company to report on its efforts to check hate speech across its many platforms, consider qualified women and nonwhite candidates for open positions in all roles, add an hourly associate to its board of directors and assess whether its products with surveillance capabilities violate human rights.

Even if Amazon is successful in preventing the proposals from surfacing at its shareholder meeting, the company likely will face continued scrutiny of the subjects of the petitions.

The Nathan Cummings Foundation, a Jewish nonprofit focused on social justice, introduced a shareholder proposal last month asking for a comprehensive report on Amazon's "Efforts to address hate speech and the sale or promotion of offensive products throughout its businesses."

In a letter to the SEC asking for permission to nix the AFL-CIO's proposal, Amazon argued that it did not need to set goals for candidate diversity because it has already "Substantially implemented" similar measures by partnering with diverse colleges and institutions and hosting career fairs "To help people - regardless of their level of experience, professional field, or background - find new opportunities." Last year, Amazon doubled the number of Black directors and vice presidents at the company, and "Is committed to doubling representation again in 2021," according to the letter.

Amazon told the SEC that Oxfam's proposal is too similar to another shareholder initiative the company plans to consider at its annual shareholder meeting.
 

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-seeks-to-block-proposal-calling-for-greater-diversity-in-hiring/