Talks of the first in-person union by Apple workers started emerging back in June 2022, but it's only now that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has stepped in and made a statement. Apple has been accused of illegally denying benefits to its workers.
NLRB Says Apple Denied Benefits
As seen in the complaint filed back on Tuesday, the labor board accused the tech giant of denying new benefits for its employees at its Towson, Maryland store. The said benefits included healthcare options, a free Coursera subscription, and even paid tuition for certain colleges.
The staff was left with no choice but to express their disappointment in an email addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook, upon learning that they had been excluded when the new benefits were announced back in October 2022, according to The Verge.
The NLRB claims that Apple is withholding benefits to discourage other workers from unionizing as well. The workers at the mentioned retail location have since joined the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan stated that they were "pleased that the NLRB has recognized the importance of upholding the rights of IAM CORE members and ensuring that all Employers, regardless of size, respect our Federal laws."
Even prior to the denial of benefits, the worker's union claimed that Apple had been intentionally attempting to impede their progress. There have been reports of store managers holding meetings about the risks of unionizing as other store branches planned to unionize as well.
The alleged unfair labor practice will be brought to court for a hearing before an NLRB Administrative Law Judge, which will take place on February 20th, 2024. Until then, the tech giant might just be able to fix their decisions to avoid a bigger legal issue.
Read Also: Google is Laying Off Contractors Who Voted to Unionize
Apple's Anti-Union Tactics
In an attempt to stop other workers from forming a union, Apple held meetings that warned its employees of the risk back in April 2023. The managers were tasked with relaying a statement from corporate leaders, which the staff believed to be a prepared speech,
NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo believes that the meeting was a violation of the National Labor Act, which was mentioned when Apple Store staff from Atlanta were subjected to an "anti-union captive audience meeting," as reported by Engadget.
Captive audience means that employees have no choice but to listen to their employer's speech as their employment might depend on it. Abruzzo expressed that this move also violates the staff's protected right to choose not to listen.
Apple was said to be interrogating workers and influencing votes as it conducted anti-union meetings. Workers would be forced to vote against it to avoid consequences, and the NLRB claims that these tactics are illegal.
Through psychological warfare, a captive audience is a form of union busting, which was mentioned by CWA Organizing Director Tom Smith. He also pointed out that Apple executives think that rules don't apply to them as they continue to interfere with union business.
Related: Apple Conducted Anti-Union Meetings for Its US Stores, Reports Say
