Union claims Apple broke federal labor law at World Trade Center store

For the second time in less than a week, Apple has been accused of illegal union-busting tactics, but this time in one of its New York City stores.

The complaint, this time in New York, follows the Communications Workers of America's (CWA) recent similar filing over Apple's actions at the Cumberland Mall store in Atlanta.

According to Bloomberg, Tim Dubnau of the CWA declined to say whether the union is aiming to formally represent Apple's NYC workers, but did say the union was filing the complaint because it had been contacted by them.

"When we learn about Apple violating the law, we try our best to defend workers' rights," the CWA deputy organizing director said. "It's time for them to just back off and allow workers to choose for themselves whether or not they want a union."

The CWA's complaint centers on how the Apple Store allegedly required employees to attend anti-union meetings. The National Labor Relations Board has previously allowed this, but current general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo wants to end what she calls coercive and illegal "captive audience" sessions.

"I understand that the argument is that, 'We've been doing this for a long time,'" Abruzzo has recently said. "But that doesn't mean it's right. It doesn't mean it's lawful."

Apple declined to comment specifically on the New York complaint, but told Bloomberg that it deeply values its retail employees.

"We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full time and part time employees," Apple told the publication, "including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits."

Atlanta staff are due to vote on joining the CWA on June 2, 2022. Maryland Apple Store employees are petitioning to instead join the International Association of Machinists, while Apple Grand Central employees are working with the Service Employees International Union.

6 Comments

M68000 868 comments · 7 Years

About 2 years ago

Truly amazing how big Apple is now and what that size brings with it in terms of
challenges to run the company. I’m not in the legal field but would be interesting to know how many people they have in legal dept.

Madbum 536 comments · 2 Years

So unions don’t want workers to get information about what and how a union will affect them. Silencing opposing view? Sounds familiar…

rob53 3307 comments · 13 Years

Unions are supposed to be used when companies treat employees like slaves (as many do especially in fast food restaurants). Unions can hel employees but after seeing the corruption by the UAW, I'm thinking it's time to start investigating all unions to see whether they really are benefiting the employees. Do Apple employees make more than a living wage? (Living wage is not minimum wage, it's more than that.) If they do then why are they complaining? As article states, Apple employees get health insurance, which many companies don't pay and reduce employee hours so they don't have to. As for laws, why is a company that provides for their employees getting investigated while there are thousands of companies that simply don't care about their employees, pay them next to nothing, no health care, and will fire them at a moments notice. I see this as a typical money grab.

bsnjon 39 comments · 4 Years

What bizzare anti-worker slogans going on here. Unions ARE Workers. If Apple has such great benefits, why does it object to putting its promises to workers in writing? A boss’s promises aren’t worth much, everyone should have a binding contract involving their employment.

The idea that workers should have a say in conditions of employment is literally what built the US and other great economies. The idea that bosses should all power in the work relationship has had terrible effects on many people and done great damage to our economy.