Large organizations are often afraid of employee unions because they represent a collective bargaining unit that can negotiate better wages, benefits, and working conditions for the workers. Unions can also provide job security and protection from arbitrary dismissal or discrimination. This means that companies may have to invest more resources in their employees, which could result in reduced profits. Additionally, unions may be able to disrupt operations through strikes or other forms of work stoppages, which can be costly and damaging to the company’s reputation. Furthermore, unions may advocate for policies that the company does not support, such as higher taxes or more government regulation, which can create additional expenses or barriers for the company. Clearly, Apple is worried about something similar, since the company is now holding anti-union meetings across multiple stores in the United States.

Apple reportedly held meetings at all of its roughly 270 stores across the United States to “discuss the risks of unionization” with employees, according to Bloomberg. The meetings were described as a cautionary tale, with managers casting the election at Apple’s first unionized store in the US as an example of the potential downsides of unionization. Some employees reportedly viewed the meetings as a scare tactic, and it’s suggested that the tone was consistent across Apple’s retail footprint.

This is seen as Apple’s most aggressive step yet to discourage unionization, following allegations of anti-union captive audience meetings last year. Apple has not yet commented on the meetings, but a statement might be available sometime soon.

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(Via)

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No, you should not be concerned about Apple Store employees trying to unionise. In fact, the general public should rally for the cause for unionisation among Apple retail store employees. And here’s the story on why they are working towards unionisation and why the public should care.

The report came from The Washington Post on Feb 18, stating that a handful of employees currently working in Apple retail stores across the U.S. are quietly organising to unionize. The plan of unionization is said to be caused by the dissent of the stagnant hourly wages Apple pays to their retail workers amidst the wave of increasing inflation rates as of recent and inspired by the successful unionization of other retail workers in the country, such as those working in Starbucks.

Apple became the first publicly traded U.S. company to hit a $1 trillion USD market cap during intraday trading on Aug. 2, 2018. It hit a $2 trillion valuation just over two years later on Aug. 19, 2020. And as of Jan 3, 2022, the Cupertino company is now sitting at a market value of over $3 trillion USD. To put this gigantic figure into perspective, the GDP of India, a country with a population nearing 1.5 billion, in the year 2020-2021 is just $2.7 trillion USD.

However, according to the report, the retail employees at Apple don’t feel that Apple’s success in the industry, isn’t distributed fairly among the mega-corporation, especially for those working lower in the hierarchy. 

Employees say Apple’s hourly rates of $17 to more than $30 per hour, are usually in line with what other retail jobs pay in the regions where they’re employed. But most other retailers do not earn so much in revenue, nor are they valued at near $3 trillion. Apple Store employees interviewed by The Washington Post believe their knowledge and passion for the products help drive sales and that they should share more fully in the company’s success.

The report claims that groups of retail employees working in at least two Apple stores in the U.S. are preparing to file paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board in the near future, and at least a half dozen more locations are said to be in less-advanced stages of the unionization process. 

As for why the public should care, if the unionization of Apple retail workers garners enough support, the move will open doors for workers to be more aware of their rights to unionize and to demand higher wages amongst the wave of rising living costs. In fact, if the welfare of workers is well maintained and protected, the workers feel more valued and enthusiastic at their jobs, the company’s reputation as an employer will be more favourable, and the end consumer will be receiving more friendly customer service.

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(Source, Via)

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