In the retail realm, the “next Starbucks” hasn’t really come along for unions as they hoped, although organized labor is still attempting to take a bite out of Apple. That effort has been ongoing since at least 2022 – ever since we heard about workers secretly organizing using Android devices – yet only two out of 271 Apple retail stores have unionized thus far. Still, multiple unions are circling the tech giant, and a failed vote slowed one of them down this month.
To clarify a bit on those two organized stores: Apple workers in Towson, Maryland, unionized with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ retail leg (the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, or IAM CORE), and workers in Oklahoma joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Several petitions for union votes at other stores have been withdrawn over the past few years.
Neither of the above unions has secured a first contract with the company, but this month, friction at both unionized stores made headlines. As mentioned above, movement occurred in Apple’s favor at another store:
- Workers at the Towson store authorized a strike following a year of failed contract negotiations. The union accused Apple of refusing to bargain in good faith and rearticulated demands for higher wages and more predictable scheduling practices.
- Apple agreed to settle an NLRB case involving ULP charges over sick leave tied to COVID-19 at the OKC store. In doing so, the company agreed to provide identical sick pay benefits to union and non-union workers and to compensate workers who contracted the virus over the past six months but didn’t receive sick pay.
- The CWA tried to unionize a third Apple retail store in New Jersey, but workers voted against joining the union. The CWA has blamed the result on what they claim is Apple’s illegal behavior, including alleged retaliation against an activist. As of now, the union has not formally protested the vote with the NLRB.
The NLRB is still sorting through a few dozen other ULP charges against Apple, which entirely denies the accusations against the company. A few of these developments:
- This month, the NLRB ruled that the company illegally interrogated workers at the Apple store in NYC’s World Trade Center.
- The NLRB dismissed CWA claims that the company fired five workers for organizing at a Kansas City, Missouri retail store. Apple maintains that the workers were terminated over attendance issues, and the Board found “that the evidence was insufficient to show” otherwise.
- Pending charges include an allegation that Apple fired an employee for “engaging in protected concerted activity” at its (non-retail) headquarters in Cupertino, California.
Altogether, Apple is certainly plagued with headaches and a polarized case of whiplash from union activity, but their situation isn’t nearly as chaotic as what has been brewing at Starbucks.
