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MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 CONTACT: Brett Abrams | 516-841-1105 | brett@unbendablemedia.com Matt Haney | 206-850-0487 | mhaney@seiu6.org
Shareholders Resolution Calls for Amazon to Address Worker Abuse, Perform Human Rights Risk Assessment
Shareholders Join Corporate Watchdog in Urging Amazon.com Board of Directors to Adopt Resolution Addressing Worker Abuse at Annual General Meeting
SEATTLE – Ahead of Amazon.com=E2=80=99s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 17th, Amazon.com shareholders are calling on the internet giant to adopt a resolution addressing worker abuse by performing a human rights risk assessment. =20
At the Annual General Meeting later this month, Lisa Lindsley, Capital Markets Advisor for SumOfUs.org, an international corporate watchdog organization, will present proxy resolution Item 4 - calling on Amazon.com to =E2=80=9Cidentify and analyze potential and actual human rights risk of Amazon=E2=80=99s entire operations and supply chain.=E2=80=9D The human rights risk resolution was filed jointly by four individual SumOfUs members who are Amazon shareholders.
VIEW THE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL HERE: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1018724/000119312516530747/d78603ddef14a.htm The proposal is supported by proxy advisory firm ISS, which said, =E2=80=9CAmazon could provide additional information regarding the policies the company has implemented to identify and assess human rights risks in its own operations and the relevant mechanisms it has implemented to ensure compliance with such policies. Such information would benefit shareholders, as it would allow them to better understand and assess how the company is managing any associated risks.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CIt is long past time that Amazon=E2=80=99s Board of Directors acknowledge and address worker abuses within their supply chain and ensure that they are following the law where they operate,=E2=80=9D explained Lisa Lindsley, representing SumOfUs at Amazon.com=E2=80=99s shareholder meeting later this month. =E2=80=9CProviding this information is critically important to shareholders seeking to assess how the company is managing risks associated with human rights abuses and will compel Amazon executives to ensure that all workers are treated fairly.=E2=80=9D
"Amazon.com continues to use a supplier of security services for its headquarters, Security Industry Specialists (SIS), that has ongoing violations of Seattle's paid sick leave law and routinely harasses workers seeking to exercise their right to freedom of association," said Sergio Salinas, President of SEIU6 Property Services NW which represents security officers in Seattle. "How can shareholders have confidence that the company is managing human rights risks in its supply chain when they are not being vigilant in their home town?"
Activists from SumOfUs will also deliver more than 104,930 signatures to Amazon.com executives at the shareholder meeting, calling on the global corporation to treat workers better and pay its share of taxes. The petition was also signed by 320 Amazon shareholders, nearly 73,000 Amazon customers, and 10,000 pension fund holders with Amazon shares.
VIEW THE PETITIONS HERE: http://action.sumofus.org/a/agm-2016-amazon/ and http://action.sumofus.org/a/amazon-agm-usa/ For more information, or for interviews with SumOfUs.org, please contact Brett Abrams at 516-841-1105 or by email at brett@unbendablemedia.com .