Photo via Apple
There have been talks at Apple about forming a union, from retail work all the way to Apple’s headquarters. Some efforts failed, according to their organizers, thanks to intimidation from Apple. However, one store location accomplished the task. An Apple Store in Towson, Maryland, just voted to unionize, with 65 in favor, 33 against. U.S. President Joe Biden even chimed in, saying he was “proud” of the employees at the store.
As the wealth gap grows, wealth mobility shrinks, cost of living expenses increase, and wages stay stagnant, workers are looking for a way to just live, let alone live better. The dire situation in the United States for many workers is pushing more employees to organize through unions. The result could be better wages, hours, benefits, and actions taken against harassment. They seek to make the workplace better for themselves, but the trend could make work better for everyone.
Does Apple Want This?
What do Apple and Starbucks have in common? Reportedly, a law firm. That’s because the law firm in question, Littler Mendelson, represents companies with workers trying to unionize, seemingly to help companies prevent the union from forming. Apple employees in Georgia called off their union vote due to what they claimed were union-busting activities. Other Apple employees have reported the same, including captive audience meetings, forcing all retail employees to watch an anti-union video.
Apple seemingly doesn’t want their employees forming a union. No company does. Collective bargaining ensures higher wages, better benefits, and safer working environments for employees, and all of that is expensive. It’s more expensive than hiring lawyers known for preventing unions from forming, fines from the National Labor Review Board for union busting and retaliation, or even giving workers a small raise to say, “See? No union needed!”
After Apple employees voted to form a union in Maryland, despite Apple’s supposed attempts to squash it, Apple has been quiet. Multiple organizations have tried to get a statement from Apple, but Apple has declined to comment.
What’s Next?
Apple employees organized through AppleCORE, the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees. Their union will be under an existing union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). IAMAW represents over 600,000 current and retired members, across a wide variety of industries.
Now, however, the hard part begins. Getting enough employees to vote for a union is difficult, for sure, but reaching a deal with your employer can take years. As Apple seemingly does not want this union to form, they may drag their feet. Unfortunately, the law seems to help companies in this endeavor. They can drag out the agreement process over years, eventually deciding to simply not recognize the union and force another vote.
“The employer in the United States has an awful lot of rights to simply withdraw recognition at the end of the process. The employer can prove that it no longer supports a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit.”
– Michael Duff, former NLRB lawyer and professor at University of Wyoming College of Law
With the turnover rate in retail, employees will have to ensure they continue to have the support of new employees. With employees leaving, new ones coming in, and potential anti-union tactics from Apple, this alone could be a struggle.
Still, it represents a change in the way retail workers see themselves against a company like Apple. Now they have a collective voice and the power that comes with that.
A Nationwide Trend?
In the U.S., Apple has over 200 stores. Employees at those stores may be looking to form a union in their own stores as well. This could improve bargaining across stores. Now that employees see it’s possible to get their coworkers on board for a union, we may see others like this.
We’re starting to see a larger labor movement in the U.S. as employees seek better treatment. Healthcare in the U.S. is expensive and abysmal, so employees want better health insurance. Executive pay has gone up exponentially, as have profits and productivity. However, that hasn’t been passed along to the workers who actually make that difference. Instead, wages have stagnated. As inflation is driven upwards at the top, those working towards productivity are left behind. Pressure from other living expenses, like gas, have also factored into the push for better protections for workers.
Starbucks employees have organized already, and have voted to join unions at a number of stores. Other retail locations may finally adopt unions as well. When I worked retail, I wanted something to protect workers from the unreasonable hours and lack of benefits. Now these movements may ensure retail workers aren’t treated so badly by their employers.
Now if only customers would treat retail employees better.
Sources:
- Associated Press via NPR News
- I. Bonifacic, Engadget
- Mitchell Clark, The Verge
- S. Dent, Engadget
- Amanda Silberling, TechCrunch