Originally published by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at https://teamster.org/2021/02/shareholders-win-unprecedented-support-for-reforms-at-tyson-foods/

SHAREHOLDERS WIN UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT FOR REFORMS AT TYSON FOODS

2021.02.19

Press Contact: Galen Munroe Phone: (202) 439-7427 Email: gmunroe@teamster.org

More than 80 Percent of Outside Shareholders Back Teamsters, Oxfam America, ABHMS and NY State Proposals on Lobbying Disclosure, Human Rights Due Diligence, and Dual Class Stock Structure, Including BlackRock

(WASHINGTON) – Proxy voting results recently released from Tyson Foods’ (NYSE:  TSN) annual shareholder meeting show unprecedented levels of investor support for shareholder proposals seeking greater disclosure and accountability around the company’s lobbying activities and human rights practices. The votes come amid intense scrutiny of Tyson’s health and safety practices, and broader governance, after COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on its operations, infecting more than 12,500 workers and causing 39 deaths.  

While the Tyson family and other insider holdings control the voting power at the company, nearly 82 percent of shares cast by independent shareholders backed the two proposals, including shares held by BlackRock and Vanguard, who both issued special voting bulletins. Another proposal, calling for the elimination of the dual class voting structure, won over 88 percent support. 

“Tyson’s current voting structure insulates its board and management from having to answer for failures, such as its deficient response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the company’s operations and workforce,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “Tyson’s independent shareholders have sent a clear message to the company that changes to the company’s voting structure are needed to ensure better management of ESG risks.”

“Investors, including the largest asset managers, are clearly outraged by Tyson leadership’s failures to protect essential workers in its pursuit of profits. Shareholders demand accountability and transparency from the Tyson Board,” said Ken Hall, International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer. “The board needs to take heed and adopt these much-needed reforms.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and co-filer Oxfam America were the sponsors of the proposal calling for lobbying disclosure; a group of 23 investors led by the American Baptist Home Mission Society (ABHMS) put forth the proposal calling for Tyson’s Board of Directors to prepare a human rights due diligence report; and the New York State Common Retirement Fund submitted the resolution calling for an end to the dual class share structure.

The lobbying proposal calls on the company to expand its disclosures which currently fail to identify state lobbying expenditures as well as payments made to trade associations and other political organizations. The proposal follows Tyson’s controversial efforts to ensure the meat industry would be designated an essential industry amid the pandemic and to accelerate line speeds despite the increased contagion risks to workers. 

“It was a clear case of production over people when Tyson put pressure on the administration to use the Defense Production Act to keep doors open despite clear threats to workers’ health and safety,” said Alex Galimberti, Senior Oxfam America Advocacy Advisor. “The result was disastrous for workers, and the company. Shareholders deserve to know how the company is doing business – especially if it’s endangering one of its primary assets, its workforce.” 

Proponents of the human rights due diligence proposal also cited the precarious conditions facing Tyson workers.

“Tyson’s independent investors make clear that they stand with workers whose rights have been repeatedly violated by the company amidst the pandemic, and will continue to demand increased worker-driven solutions. Tyson insiders, the board, and senior management cannot ignore this clear call to address material human rights risks,” said Gina Falada, Senior Program Associate at Investor Advocates for Social Justice.

Contacts:

Louis Malizia, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 
lmalizia@teamster.org
(202) 497-6924

Matt Sweeney, New York State Common Retirement Fund
msweeney@osc.ny.gov
(646) 584-2850

Kria Sakakeeny, Oxfam America
Kria.sakakeeny@oxfam.org
(401) 359-2219

Gina Falada, Investor Advocates for Social Justice (on behalf of ABHMS)
gfalada@iasj.org
(973) 509-8800