Apple Store workers in Atlanta say ‘intimidation’ made fair union voting impossible

Workers at Apple Cumberland Mall will not hold union elections in June, According to a report from Bloomberg. The Communications Workers of America (or CWA), which is trying to regulate the store, says it withdrew the request for an election because “Apple’s repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act have made free and fair elections impossible.”

vote that was It is scheduled to start on June 2If it had passed, it would have been the first union election in the US Apple Store. Now, this address will go to Store in Maryland, unless this petition is also withdrawn. Workers at the Towson Town Center store are set to begin voting in person on June 15.

In the run-up to the now-cancelled election, Apple faced allegations of union busting. a company Hired anti-union lawyers and has Anti-union messages circulated Through the store leaders and even Video messages from CEOs. CWA also filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alleging that the company Captive audience meetings were held In Atlanta to respond to regulation. NLRB is Trying to make these kinds of meetings illegal.

The company has also experimented with friendlier tactics to make unions less attractive to workers – it is said Initial wage increases for retail workers $2 an hour. While payment was a top priority for organizers at the Atlanta Apple Store, Posted in an open letter last monthThere were many other non-cash requests. It included better job opportunities, especially for marginalized workers, and more flexibility for civic engagement and volunteering.

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according to BloombergRegulators also said COVID-19 was also a factor in their decision to withdraw the application; They were concerned that voting might make voting unsafe, or even make them unable to vote at all. Apple’s COVID security policies were also mentioned in the open letter to regulators, which called on the company to seek employee input on its health policies and work harder to enforce existing safety regulations.

The union’s efforts seem to have broad support from store employees. When organizers filed for elections in April, more than 70 percent of workers participated Signed cards support this move.

NLRB did not respond immediately the edgeHe asked for comment on whether the union’s allegations of intimidation could lead to an investigation. Apple also did not immediately respond to our request for comment on the allegations.

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