New York Apple retail union organizers are asking for $30 an hour

Apple workers who are attempting to organize a union at the company's Grand Central Terminal retail store in New York City are asking to be paid at least $30 hour per hour, along with other benefits.

The workers first began to organize earlier in 2022. On April 16, the group started to gain momentum, taking steps that would result in it being the first Apple retail outlet to unionize.

On Monday, Fruit Stand Workers United published their first website, laying out their request for increased wages and other benefits.

"For pay, we seek a minimum $30 for all workers, built up on a matrix based on role, tenure, and performance," the organizers wrote. "For benefits, we seek more robust changes, like increased tuition reimbursement, faster accrued and more vacation time, and better retirement options, including higher match rates for 401(k) and enrollment into pension plans."

Additionally, the workers asked for better health and safety standards, including research into security protocols, track dust, health effects from building materials, and noise pollution at Grand Central.

Apple employees can make anywhere from $17 to more than $30 per hour, depending on the market and their experience. New York City, where the retail store is located, is the most expensive city in the U.S. to live. Apple says that its minimum hourly rate starts at $20.

In a statement, Apple said that it offers "very strong compensation and benefits for full time and part time employees."

Back in February, Apple also began preparing to issue pay raises and other benefits to retail staffers as it sought to keep workers in an increasingly competitive labor market.

While the group may organize the first retail union at Apple, this is not the first time that Apple workers have attempted to organize. Past efforts have included "Apple Together" and its predecessor, #AppleToo, which both advocated for awareness of harassment, sexism, and other issues at the Cupertino tech giant.

46 Comments

Madbum 536 comments · 2 Years

About 2 years ago

I have no words. We are all human being but I just cannot accept there are people this stupid

so every employee gets $30 regardless, so what is my incentive for working hard? And what is the incentive for the slacker to work?

SlimyYetSatisfying 27 comments · 5 Years

Apple shuts down NYC's stores for "remodeling" indefinitely.

Apple
announces NYC stores will be online orders only with free over night shipping or in person pickup via Kiosks staffed with Robots .

Union people sorry!

unknownorigin 3 comments · 3 Years

I commented before on an article from AI regarding Apple employees’ demands for certain things. In it I stated that they have the right to ask for better pay, better benefits, and better work environments - including part timers. This time, I’d like to say this is just stupid. Listen, I’m all for employees fighting for their rights and jumping ship to other companies if they don’t get what they want at their current workplace. However, I think demanding a $30/hour pay rate regardless of your job, skills, qualifications, etc is just ludicrous. There’s a difference between fighting for your rights and better benefits and just being greedy for zero effort. In my honest opinion, and as a former Apple employee, no other company does this. Sure we can argue all day that Apple isn’t “any other company” or that they’re a trillion dollar company with so much cash in the bank they literally don’t know what to do with it, but I’d rather Apple employees worked on commission. That way, people with the skills and qualifications to earn more, will earn more while those who are just slackers and don’t want to do crap yet get a paycheck regardless of their performance will earn less. In my opinion getting paid hourly is a trend that should be obliterated. Because I can work 80 hours per pay period yet only make $2000 while someone else working on commission can work 60 hours yet make $5000. Having a regular Sales Specialist earn $30/hour while managers in other retail stores make $15-$20/hour is a joke. I honestly think everyone who’s behind the unionizing efforts at Apple have no clue wth they’re even doing or what they even want. They need to have priorities. Otherwise they will fail.

unknownorigin said:

I commented before on an article from AI regarding Apple employees’ demands for certain things. In it I stated that they have the right to ask for better pay, better benefits, and better work environments - including part timers. This time, I’d like to say this is just stupid. Listen, I’m all for employees fighting for their rights and jumping ship to other companies if they don’t get what they want at their current workplace. However, I think demanding a $30/hour pay rate regardless of your job, skills, qualifications, etc is just ludicrous. There’s a difference between fighting for your rights and better benefits and just being greedy for zero effort. In my honest opinion, and as a former Apple employee, no other company does this. Sure we can argue all day that Apple isn’t “any other company” or that they’re a trillion dollar company with so much cash in the bank they literally don’t know what to do with it, but I’d rather Apple employees worked on commission. That way, people with the skills and qualifications to earn more, will earn more while those who are just slackers and don’t want to do crap yet get a paycheck regardless of their performance will earn less. In my opinion getting paid hourly is a trend that should be obliterated. Because I can work 80 hours per pay period yet only make $2000 while someone else working on commission can work 60 hours yet make $5000. Having a regular Sales Specialist earn $30/hour while managers in other retail stores make $15-$20/hour is a joke. I honestly think everyone who’s behind the unionizing efforts at Apple have no clue wth they’re even doing or what they even want. They need to have priorities. Otherwise they will fail.

I will go one step further and bet a few bucks that every person behind these Union organizing are the least productive and worst employees , or the slackers.