Last month, workers and IAM sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook. of their intention to organize as a Coalition of Organized Retail Employees – or AppleCore for short.
This vote is a part of organizational wave sweeping the nation as workers increasingly unite for demand higher pay, better benefits and more speaking lever with their employers during the pandemic. In New York first Amazon warehouse voted to form union in Spring. Dozens of Starbucks stores across the country unionized and labor movements pushed for outdoor retailing REI and video game manufacturer Raven Software.
Billy Jarbo, Apple Towson employee as well as union organizer, said Apple campaign undermine organizational efforts “definitely shocked people”, but this is the most union supporters remained strong.
“It just feels good go to new era of of such kind of work hope this creates a spark [and] another stores Can use this momentum,” Jarbaugh said. in text after vote Saturday ended.
Three Apple employees said that union drive lost some supporters at the corporate campaign convince the workers not to unite.
“They got a lot of people hesitate… they definitely pulled people whom we initially considered supporters,” said Eric Brown, who works at Towson Apple store.
Brown said they were able to overcome these tactics because the organizers from interrupted campaign in Atlanta prepared them on What to expect.
“They allowed us know that some of speaking points as well as tactics were going to be and we were able to let people know a little of things they can try,” he said.
Apple spokesperson Josh Lipton declined to comment after vote.
About 20 Apple employees came to downtown Towson. on Saturday night, some of who were in room during vote count. Following this, IAM spokesperson DeLane Adams stated that group went to the center garage clapping and celebrating with members of MAM who we in attendance.
“I applaud the courage shown by CORE members at the Apple conference. store in towson for achieve this historic victory,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in statement after vote. “They are made huge sacrifice for thousands of Apple employees nationwide who everything was eyes on these elections.
workers in at least two other Apple Stores locations trying to organize, including store in New York and one in Atlanta, which has become first location where employees applied with National Labor Relations Council. But communication workers of America withdrew its request for elections there last month, saying in statement that “Apple’s repeated violations of National Labor Relations Law made free and fair elections are impossible.”
At that time the organization group sent a message to store workers saying he would reset and “continue with this fight”.
Rebecca Givan, partner professor of labor research at Rutgers University, called the results of Saturday big win for workers in in technology and retail sectors – and in specific for Apple employees outside Towson.
“We will definitely see how Apple employees across the country out these workers to learn more about how do it,” she said. “And understand how They won such a big win.”
Several companies are accused of this, including Amazon and Apple. year of “union ruin” or use tactics dissuade or intimidate workers joining unions. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
Apple Store employees in New York reported year that some workers were taken aside by managers and given a speech about pitfalls of unions there. At meetings, managers warned that unionization would mean a loss of benefits such as ability work at Apple headquarters.
Apple, which has more than 270 retail locations in the country mentioned in the previous comment this is made on unionization of trade unions.
“We are lucky to have an incredible retail team members, and we deeply appreciate all they bring to Apple,” said Lipton. in statement before vote. “We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full temporary and part-time work, including healthcare, tuition reimbursement, new paid parental leave family holidays, annual share grants, and many other perks.”
workers in Towson told The Washington Post about this. last the month they hope to shape union will give they have a place at the table on schedule, salary, coronavirus safety measures and more. Some said that Apple was too slow to raise wages and that the company needed to give individual stores more control over own planning systems, rather than having a corporate office control the majority of It.
“I always had an intuition that I gave more value than I get compensation for, and here is what covid helped me decompress: how I was very worried about this, ”- Jarbo, Apple employee. employee as well as union organizer, told The Post at the time.
“Today we are celebrating. We enjoy in this,” said Chaya Barrett, who works at Towson store. “Then we’ll get together and figure out out how we’re going to get a negotiating committee. … Even people who we voted against want im be a part of these negotiations.
