With investors globally pushing companies to look after their workforce as part of an increased focus on social issues, London-based retail investor activist platform Tulipshare helped file a resolution seeking to shine a light on Amazon’s practices.

Specifically, the proposal – filed under the name of a Tulipshare investor, Thomas Dadashi Tazehozi – asked the company to commission an independent audit and report on working conditions at the company.

While Amazon asked the SEC to let them refuse to put the resolution to a vote, claiming the issue relates to ordinary business operations, an April 6 letter from the SEC disagreed.

“In our view, the Tazehozi Proposal transcends ordinary business matters,” said the letter seen by Reuters.
Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. An annual general meeting of shareholders is scheduled for May 25.

A separate shareholder resolution seeking an audit on workplace health and safety submitted to the company by investors including the Domini Impact Equity Fund was not backed by the regulator, though.

Noting that the second resolution was “substantially duplicative” of the first, the SEC said there was some basis for the company’s request that it be allowed to skip the vote, and it would not recommend enforcement action if Amazon were to do so.

Last week some 55% of workers at a Staten Island warehouse voted to form the first U.S. union at Amazon.