John Deere Investors Reject Anti-DEI Proposal

John Deere investors have rejected a company proposal that discredits DEI efforts.

Bloomberg Law reports that following John Deere’s retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion last year, investors rejected an anti-DEI advocate’s campaign for demographic data on the company’s new hires.

The National Legal and Policy Center proposed that Deere & Co. report annually on hiring inequalities based on race and gender. The tractor manufacturer should “prove it does not practice discrimination,” according to the group’s demand, which raises worries about discrimination against white workers in corporate America.

According to preliminary results published at the company’s annual meeting, only 1.3% of Deere stockholders voted in favor of the proposal.

Deere shareholders also rejected recommendations from the National Center for Public Policy Research, a self-described conservative think tank, and the American Family Association, an organization that opposes corporate LGBTQ+ efforts.

The research tank urged Deere to report on corporate financial sustainability, claiming the corporation may need to disassociate itself from DEI. The other group requested that Deere report on its philanthropic giving. According to early data, neither proposal earned more than 1.3% of the company’s investor votes.

John Deere Is Also Facing a Federal Lawsuit

Amidst the backlash that the company is experiencing for rejecting DEI, John Deere is also facing a federal lawsuit from the FTC for its so-called “tractor repair monopoly.“

According to an official announcement from the federal agency, farmers are now paying higher prices and finding it more challenging to obtain repairs during critical planting and harvesting seasons due to the company’s anti-consumer maintenance tactics. According to the lawsuit, John Deere has a monopoly on tractor repairs.

The Federal Trade Commission and Minnesota and Illinois attorneys general filed the action, which is the most recent and substantial legal challenge to John Deere’s repair monopoly. Furthermore, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies have expressed interest in and support for a class-action lawsuit brought by Illinois consumers against the corporation over its repair practices, according to 404 Media.

“The Federal Trade Commission today files suit against agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere & Company, stating that it has illegally restricted the ability of farmers and independent technicians to repair Deere equipment, including tractors and combines,” read a formal comment from Lina Khan, FTC commissioner, about the decision.