On Thursday, local time, the American Communications Workers Association (CWA) submitted a document to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRB) accusing apple of monitoring employees in New York's World Trade Center stores, violating U.S. labor law. CWA said in the document that Apple interrogated and monitored its employees, restricted them from posting leaflets on organizing trade unions, and forced them to participate in anti union speeches.
Meanwhile, Apple retail employees in many stores in the United States are taking steps to form unions, including stores in New York central station, Atlanta and Maryland. Before that, employees of companies such as Amazon and Starbucks set off a wave of unionization.
CWA spokesman Tim dubnau said in a statement: "when we learn that Apple violates the law, we will do our best to protect the rights of workers. It is time for them to give in and let the workers choose whether they want to form a union or not."
"Apple retail employees across the country are demanding a voice at work and a place at the negotiating table. Unfortunately, Apple's response runs counter to its declared values and adopts the high-pressure methods commonly used by typical American companies to intimidate and intimidate employees," dubno said
CWA's complaints focused on Apple stores requiring employees to participate in anti union activities. The National Labor Relations Commission had previously allowed companies to do so, but the current general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, wanted to end such acts and condemned them as mandatory and illegally "capturing listeners".
Abruzzo said recently: "I understand that the focus of the debate is, 'we've been doing this for a long time'. But that doesn't mean it's right or legal."
When asked whether the union was seeking to fight for legitimate interests on behalf of Apple employees, CWA said the organization "has always maintained contact with Apple employees". "At present, our focus is to support Apple retail employees and ensure that their workers' rights are not infringed, which is why we submit multiple unfair labor practices (ULP) documents on their behalf," the organization added
This is the second time in less than a week that Apple has been accused of illegally undermining its efforts to form trade unions. On Tuesday, CWA also filed another charge against apple, accusing the latter of obstructing the establishment of trade unions in the stores of the Cumberland shopping center in Atlanta and violating U.S. labor law.
Apple retail employees in Atlanta will vote on whether to join CWA on June 2, 2022. Employees at Apple stores in Maryland are petitioning to join the International Association of Mechanics (IAM). Apple's employees at New York central station are working with the International Union of service employees (SEIU).
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaint, but reiterated that Apple attached great importance to its retail employees. "We are pleased to offer very generous compensation and benefits to full-time and part-time employees, including medical care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock gifts and many other benefits," the company said (small)