Tech giant Apple has once again come under scrutiny for its alleged union-busting practices. According to Bloomberg, a judge from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Apple had interfered with employees’ efforts to organize at its World Trade Center store in New York City. The ruling stated that managers had confiscated pro-union flyers in the break room and attempted to discourage employees from joining unions, ultimately leading to the collapse of the organizing campaign. The judge ordered Apple to cease coercive interrogations of employees and respect their rights to engage in protected activities and show sympathy for unions.
This development follows the revelation in early 2022 that Apple store workers nationwide had begun organizing in response to concerns over inadequate wages in relation to the rising cost of living. However, Apple responded by hiring the services of the anti-union law firm Littler Mendelson, which also represents corporations like Starbucks and McDonald’s. Store managers were instructed to propagate anti-union sentiments, warning employees that union membership could result in reduced pay, career opportunities, and time off. Unfair labor practice charges were subsequently filed by the Communications Workers of America against Apple stores at the World Trade Center and Atlanta’s Cumberland Mall in May.
Unionization efforts have been gradually gaining momentum at Apple stores across the country. The NLRB had previously found Apple guilty of violating federal law in Atlanta, where daily mandatory anti-union meetings and employee interrogations took place. In recent years, Apple store employees in Maryland and Oklahoma successfully voted to unionize. However, unionization plans at other locations, such as the St. Louis branch, were abandoned due to similar alleged tactics employed by Apple.
As Apple continues to face legal repercussions for its alleged union-busting actions, the fight for workers’ rights and fair labor practices within the company remains an ongoing battle.
