Apple shareholders refuse the proposal to scrap Dei despite increasing response

Apple’s shareholders voted to keep the diversity, capital and policies of technology giant’s involvement in an annual meeting on Tuesday, a management win that had opposed efforts by a conservative group to remove the program.

Voting at the annual meeting of the iPhone creator was seen as a test of shareholders’ views on the value of DEI programs, which many companies increased or increased starting in 2020 amid the movement of Black Lives Matter.

A growing conservative reaction has pushed large US companies, including Meta and the alphabet, to remove Dei Initiatives before and after Donald Trump’s return to the Presidency.

Trump has criticized corporate diversity programs, suggesting that the Department of Justice can investigate if they violate the law.

The National Center for Public Policy Research, which describes itself as a free market think, had submitted the proposal entitled “The Request to cease Dei’s efforts” at the shareholder meeting.

Proponents of the proposal argued that recent legal changes meant that Apple would see an increase in cases of discrimination if Dei’s policies continued. Apple said there was an active supervision attempt to avoid legal risks and that the proposal inappropriately limited management.

While Apple unveils diversity data on the base of its employees, the company did not set targets or quotas. Many of her Dei efforts are in the form of programs such as a racial justice initiative under which she has provided support to historically black colleges and universities in the US

Apple also makes efforts for Dei outside the US, such support for coding learning skills for indigenous populations in Mexico and working with a community -led aboriginal community, following the Australian criminal justice reform.

Apple shareholders have in the past refused proposals that would ask the company to discover more about racial and gender wages.

Apple Director General Tim Cook said at Tuesday’s meeting “Company strength has always come from hiring the best people and then securing a culture of cooperation, one where people of different backgrounds and perspectives come together to innovate” .

But Cook added that “While the legal landscape on these issues evolves, we may have to make some changes to agree, but our north star of dignity and respect for all and our work for this purpose will not swing never. “

The same group had asked the wholesale Costco to report on the risks of conservation of diversity and its involvement initiatives.

On Monday, Apple highlighted her expenses at the US, saying she planned $ 500 billion in investment in the next four years, attracting praise from Trump days after media reported that Cook had met with the president.

Apple’s shareholders also voted against a proposal by asking the company to prepare a report that evaluates the risks of his work with him, while all management proposals were approved, a preliminary number of votes showed.

Cook said on Tuesday that Apple would be the largest client of a Taiwan semiconductor factory in Arizona that Trump helped bring to the US during his first term.