The NLRB alleges that Apple “discriminated against employees” trying to unionize


The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against Apple, alleging that the company “discriminated against employees” at its World Trade Center store, according to Kayla Blado, a spokesperson for the regulator. The NLRB’s investigation was spurred by charges filed in May by the Communications Workers of America, the union working with organizers at Apple retail stores in New York, Atlanta, and Oklahoma. The later store is preparing to hold a vote later this month on whether to become the second US location to unionize.

According to Blado, the NLRB’s complaint alleges that Apple wouldn’t let workers put union fliers on a breakroom table, even though it allowed other solicitations and notices there. She also told The Verge that the agency “found merit” to complaints that Apple had been “interrogating its employees about their support for the union,” and about concerted activities around pay discussions. The full complaint isn’t publicly available yet.

Apple’s been accused of resorting to many different anti-union tactics

Unless Apple settles with the union, it’ll have to attend a hearing with an NLRB Administrative Law Judge on December 13th. According to Blado, the agency’s regional director wants to make the company post notices informing the workers of their rights (similar to what Amazon had to do last year), and provide training for supervisors. The NLRB can’t charge financial penalties.


No comments