Click Here to view the Video Overview
Today, Tyson Foods’ investors will vote on an important proposal (Proposal 4). This proposal asks the company to share voting results by class of shares. The proposal, filed by the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), seeks to address the misalignment between independent shareholders’ human rights concerns and Tyson’s lack of responsiveness to these material risks.
The Need for Transparency
Tyson has a dual-class structure. This grants insider shareholders significant voting power, approximately 72%, enhancing their influence. As a result, voting outcomes on human rights-related proposals are skewed despite widespread support from independent shareholders. Disaggregating the voting results by class of shares would promote transparency, allowing shareholders to see how independent investors vote on crucial proposals. It would also enhance accountability by signaling the importance of addressing material human rights risks.
Gina Haas, Director of Investments at ABHMS, emphasizes the moral and financial imperatives behind this proposal:
“As faith-based investors, we call on Tyson to protect its most vulnerable workers, recognizing the inherent dignity of all people, including migrant workers. By disaggregating voting results by class of shares, Tyson can take the first step towards demonstrating that it recognizes the importance of addressing these adverse human rights impacts.”
Tyson’s Dual-Class Structure and Governance Issues
Faith-based investors have worked with Tyson on human rights, racial equity, and worker safety issues for a long time. However, Tyson’s dual-class structure allows the company to misrepresent these concerns. This is true even with the long-term risks of poor labor conditions.
Tyson Limited Partnership (TLP) controls almost all Class B stock and holds 71.74% of the company’s voting power. Tyson acknowledges this outsized influence, which can prevent changes favored by independent shareholders.
Studies show that companies with dual-class structures often have governance problems. They lack board accountability and face more environmental and social issues, which can harm their long-term financial performance.
Examples of Tyson’s Nonresponsiveness
Human Rights Due Diligence (2021)
In response to worries about Tyson’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, ABHMS submitted a proposal asking Tyson for a report on human rights due diligence.
While the proposal received only 18.4% shareholder support overall, independent shareholder support was 78.7%—highlighting the disparity created by insider voting power.
Tyson opposed the proposal and did not address the issue of worker protections. Later, reports from Congress showed the company’s failures during the pandemic.
Racial Equity Audit (2022)
ABHMS requested an independent racial equity audit (REA) to analyze whether Tyson’s policies disproportionately harmed communities of color. Tyson initially agreed to conduct an audit, leading to the withdrawal of the proposal. However, the company has not published any information on this commitment, demonstrating its lack of follow-through.
Child Labor Violations (2024)
After reports of illegal child labor in Tyson plants, ABHMS proposed an independent audit of Tyson’s labor practices. Overall, the proposal received 12.12% support, but independent shareholder support was significantly higher, at 54.5%.
Despite this, Tyson opposed the proposal. They implemented only limited measures, which did not address the serious risks of illegal child labor in their supply chain.
Since then, the Department of Labor has started a new investigation looking into whether Tyson used migrant child labor. In January 2025, authorities fined a sanitation company for employing children to clean slaughterhouses, including a Tyson facility in Virginia. These developments underscore the ongoing risks Tyson faces concerning illegal child labor.
Call to Action
Investors and advocates urge Tyson to increase transparency and accountability by disclosing voting results by class of shares. The following actions are recommended:
- To Tyson Foods: Protect workers, especially vulnerable migrant workers, within your operations and supply chains. Tyson relies heavily on migrant workers, and because of this, the company has a moral and financial duty to protect their rights.
- To Tyson Shareholders: Vote FOR Proposal 4 to ensure transparency in voting results and hold Tyson accountable for addressing human rights concerns. Demand that Tyson fulfill its commitment to conducting a racial equity audit and take concrete steps to protect its workforce.
Faith-based investors emphasize the biblical principle of caring for migrants and workers, referencing Leviticus 19:34 (NIV):
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
Tyson is being scrutinized more closely for its labor practices. Adopting greater transparency with Proposal 4 could help regain investor confidence and support the rights of its workers.
For more information about Investor Advocates for Social Justice, Click Here
For press inquiries or additional questions, please contact Aaron Acosta, Program Director, at [email protected].
Click Here to view the Video Overview
Today, Tyson Foods’ investors will vote on an important proposal (Proposal 4). This proposal asks the company to share voting results by class of shares. The proposal, filed by the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), seeks to address the misalignment between independent shareholders’ human rights concerns and Tyson’s lack of responsiveness to these material risks.
The Need for Transparency
Tyson has a dual-class structure. This grants insider shareholders significant voting power, approximately 72%, enhancing their influence. As a result, voting outcomes on human rights-related proposals are skewed despite widespread support from independent shareholders. Disaggregating the voting results by class of shares would promote transparency, allowing shareholders to see how independent investors vote on crucial proposals. It would also enhance accountability by signaling the importance of addressing material human rights risks.
Gina Haas, Director of Investments at ABHMS, emphasizes the moral and financial imperatives behind this proposal:
Tyson’s Dual-Class Structure and Governance Issues
Faith-based investors have worked with Tyson on human rights, racial equity, and worker safety issues for a long time. However, Tyson’s dual-class structure allows the company to misrepresent these concerns. This is true even with the long-term risks of poor labor conditions.
Tyson Limited Partnership (TLP) controls almost all Class B stock and holds 71.74% of the company’s voting power. Tyson acknowledges this outsized influence, which can prevent changes favored by independent shareholders.
Studies show that companies with dual-class structures often have governance problems. They lack board accountability and face more environmental and social issues, which can harm their long-term financial performance.
Examples of Tyson’s Nonresponsiveness
Human Rights Due Diligence (2021)
In response to worries about Tyson’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, ABHMS submitted a proposal asking Tyson for a report on human rights due diligence.
While the proposal received only 18.4% shareholder support overall, independent shareholder support was 78.7%—highlighting the disparity created by insider voting power.
Tyson opposed the proposal and did not address the issue of worker protections. Later, reports from Congress showed the company’s failures during the pandemic.
Racial Equity Audit (2022)
ABHMS requested an independent racial equity audit (REA) to analyze whether Tyson’s policies disproportionately harmed communities of color. Tyson initially agreed to conduct an audit, leading to the withdrawal of the proposal. However, the company has not published any information on this commitment, demonstrating its lack of follow-through.
Child Labor Violations (2024)
After reports of illegal child labor in Tyson plants, ABHMS proposed an independent audit of Tyson’s labor practices. Overall, the proposal received 12.12% support, but independent shareholder support was significantly higher, at 54.5%.
Despite this, Tyson opposed the proposal. They implemented only limited measures, which did not address the serious risks of illegal child labor in their supply chain.
Since then, the Department of Labor has started a new investigation looking into whether Tyson used migrant child labor. In January 2025, authorities fined a sanitation company for employing children to clean slaughterhouses, including a Tyson facility in Virginia. These developments underscore the ongoing risks Tyson faces concerning illegal child labor.
Call to Action
Investors and advocates urge Tyson to increase transparency and accountability by disclosing voting results by class of shares. The following actions are recommended:
Faith-based investors emphasize the biblical principle of caring for migrants and workers, referencing Leviticus 19:34 (NIV):
Tyson is being scrutinized more closely for its labor practices. Adopting greater transparency with Proposal 4 could help regain investor confidence and support the rights of its workers.
For more information about Investor Advocates for Social Justice, Click Here
For press inquiries or additional questions, please contact Aaron Acosta, Program Director, at [email protected].