Coca-Cola shareholders vote against a proposal to see how anti-abortion laws ... trends now
Almost 87 percent of voting Coca-Cola shareholders were against a proposal to look into whether anti-abortion laws in some states would negatively affect the business.
During its annual shareholder meeting last week the company voted on several items, including whether to produce a report on the impact of anti-abortion laws.
The proposal was made by As You Sow, a non-profit group that lobbies shareholders in corporations to enact policies it believes will bring about positive social change.
As You Sow suggested anti-abortion laws in some states could cause Coke to lose female employees, and that it is in shareholders' interests to consider that risk.
But in a statement rejecting the proposal, the board said measures 'already in place are appropriate and sufficient to address potential risks'.
Coca-Cola shareholders voted against producing a report into how anti-abortion laws in certain states would drive female employees away. Pictured is the company's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia
Nearly 87 percent of votes cast during the company's annual shareholder meeting on April 25 were against the report. Each share corresponds to a single vote, so shareholders with more shares in the company have more votes and yield greater voting power
On April 25 nearly 3 billion votes (87 percent) were cast against the proposed report, and just under 500 million (13 percent) in favor. Around 70 million votes were abstained.
Each share corresponds to a single vote, so shareholders with more shares in the company have more votes and yield greater voting power.
The proposal put forward made direct reference to Georgia, where the company is headquartered and hires thousands of staff.
In Georgia, abortion is banned when a 'fetal' heartbeat can be detected - about six weeks into a pregnancy. Under previous law before the repeal of Roe v. Wade, abortions were legal up to about 22 weeks.
'Women who cannot access abortion are three times more likely to leave the workforce than women who have access to abortion,' wrote the As You Sow in the proposal, citing a report by the UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health.
It also
