# Amazon faces shareholder vote on treatment of warehouse workers Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-04-07 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Amazon Faces Shareholder Vote on Worker Treatment Meta Description: Amazon, the world's biggest retailer, will face a shareholder vote on an independent audit of its treatment of warehouse workers following SEC decision. URL: https://financedigest.com/amazon-faces-shareholder-vote-on-treatment-of-warehouse-workershtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-04-07t150321z1lynxnpei360v5rtroptp4amazon-com-holiday-warehouse-1736815895289-compressed.jpg) By Simon Jessop and Ross Kerber LONDON (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc., the world’s biggest retailer, will face a shareholder vote calling for an independent audit of its treatment of warehouse workers after the top U.S. [securities regulator](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-finance-regulators-should-pay-heed-to-energy-security-policy-says-sunak.html "UK finance regulators should pay heed to energy security policy, says Sunak") turned down the company’s request to skip the resolution. The decision means Amazon [investors will get to vote](https://www.financedigest.com/glencore-courts-120-teck-investors-for-bid-backing-as-spinoff-vote-looms-source.html "Glencore courts 120 Teck investors for bid backing as spinoff vote looms -source") on the issue for the first time, proponents said, taking advantage of guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in [November that made it more supportive](https://www.financedigest.com/netflix-ad-supported-plan-to-launch-in-november-at-7-a-month.html "Netflix ad-supported plan to launch in November at a month") of votes on significant social issues. \[nL1N2RU1YO\] Founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, Amazon has drawn increasing criticism in recent years for its treatment of workers, including claims of poor [working conditions at its warehouses and its attempts to block workers](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms") unionising. With investors globally pushing companies to look after their workforce as part of an increased focus on social issues, London-based retail investor activist platform Tulipshare helped file a resolution [seeking to shine a light on Amazon’s](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-loses-bid-to-throw-out-case-by-uk-drivers-seeking-worker-rights.html "Amazon loses bid to throw out case by UK drivers seeking worker rights") practices. Specifically, the proposal – filed under the name of a Tulipshare investor, [Thomas Dadashi Tazehozi – asked the company to commission an independent](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-third-of-uk-people-think-thomas-whitmore-from-independence-day-will-be-joined-by-donald-trump-in-disneys-hall-of-presidents.html "Over a third of UK people think Thomas Whitmore from Independence Day will be joined by Donald Trump in Disney’s Hall of Presidents") audit and report on working conditions at the company. While Amazon asked the SEC to let them refuse to put the [resolution to a vote](https://www.financedigest.com/hsbc-board-recommends-shareholders-vote-against-spin-off-resolution.html "HSBC board recommends shareholders vote against spin-off resolution"), claiming the issue relates to ordinary business operations, an April 6 letter from the SEC disagreed. In our view, the Tazehozi Proposal transcends ordinary business matters,” said the letter [seen by Reuters](https://www.financedigest.com/the-logo-of-french-cloud-computing-company-ovhcloud-is-seen-on-a-data-center-building-in-strasbourg-france-october-13-2021-reuters-christian-hartmann.html "The logo of French cloud computing company OVHcloud is seen on a data-center building in Strasbourg, France, October 13, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann"). Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. An annual general meeting of shareholders is scheduled for May 25. A separate shareholder resolution seeking an audit on workplace [health and safety submitted to the company by investors including the Domini Impact](https://www.financedigest.com/the-impact-of-debt-on-your-health-and-what-you-can-do-about-it.html "The Impact of Debt On Your Health, And What You Can Do About It") Equity Fund was not backed by the regulator, though. [Noting that the second resolution was “substantially](https://www.financedigest.com/the-peripheral-nerve-stimulators-market-to-get-going-on-a-substantial-note-between-2018-2028.html "The Peripheral Nerve Stimulators Market To Get Going On A Substantial Note Between 2018-2028") duplicative” of the first, the SEC said there was some basis for the company’s request that it be allowed to skip the vote, and it would not recommend enforcement action if Amazon were to do so. Last week some 55% of [workers at a Staten Island warehouse voted](https://www.financedigest.com/london-ambulance-service-workers-to-vote-on-strike-action-union.html "London Ambulance Service workers to vote on strike action – union") to form the first U.S. [union at Amazon](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-will-not-cut-jobs-in-italy-unions-say-after-meeting.html "Amazon will not cut jobs in Italy, unions say after meeting"). (Reporting by Simon Jessop, additional reporting by Ross Kerber; Editing by Mark Porter) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---