Andrew Orr
The US Labor Board found that Apple conducted unauthorized interrogations of employees at the Apple World Trade Center retail store in New York City.
In a recent ruling, the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that Apple engaged in illegal practices at a NYC retail store in 2022. First, the company interrogated staff members about union activities. Second, it restricted the distribution of union flyers within the workplace.
The decision by a trio of board members affirmed a ruling in 2023 from an administrative law judge, which also found Apple guilty of similar labor violations, according to the latest reporting from Bloomberg.
Notably, employees at stores in Maryland and Oklahoma successfully voted to unionize in 2022, although they have yet to secure collective bargaining agreements with the company.
Apple was reported to have engaged in various "coercive interrogation" practices, prompting the company to announce its intention to appeal the ruling. Moreover, unionized workers at another Apple store have raised concerns over what they perceive as retaliatory measures following their unionization efforts.
The company's union challenges aren't isolated to New York City. A store in Short Hills, New Jersey, is poised to vote on unionization, potentially becoming the third unionized Apple store in the US.
These developments are part of a more significant wave of unionization efforts within the tech industry, a promising sign where workers are increasingly pushing for better working conditions, benefits, and representation.
The NLRB ruling poses substantial challenges to Apple's current labor practices and sets a crucial legal and moral precedent for how tech companies engage with organized labor.
Decisions made by NLRB members can be challenged in federal court. However, it's important to note that the agency doesn't have the power to assign punitive damages or to hold executives personally accountable for infractions, which can limit the effectiveness of its rulings.
Charles Martin
Wesley Hilliard
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
Marko Zivkovic
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
8 Comments
FACT #1: Considering how Apple and its senior executives donate 84% of its political donations to the Democrats,
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/02/most-liberal-tech-companies-ranked-by-employee-donations.html
FACT #2: and considering that Democrats are 75% likely to support unions, while Republicans are only 35% likely,
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/01/labor-unions/
...then why does Apple act so much like Republicans when it comes to unions?
Seen through a european lens, the actions of Apple's leadership are not of the brightest. Consequence of such practice can give rise to a toxic work atmosphere, this in a company like Apple is pernicious to say the least. It need not get much crazier than this, the company's stock is already under heavy pressure on the stock market !
What exactly is the incentive for companies to follow the law when all it risks is a minor fine at worst? The law has to change so that officers are criminally liable and face prison terms. Things will not change until those responsible feel the pinch. What’s the point of having laws on the book if there is no penalty for those who openly violate them?