Apple retail employees are reportedly planning to organize a union.
Apple retail workers across several stores nationwide are stealthily organizing to unionize, spurred by wages that haven't kept pace with inflation, despite the tech giant's record-breaking profits, as reported by the Washington Post. Sources, who chose to remain anonymous due to the secrecy of the plans, revealed that two stores have gained union backing and are preparing to file paperwork with the NLRB. At least half a dozen other stores are reportedly in various stages of the unionization process. Although this affects only a handful of Apple's 270+ US retail locations, each store contributes significantly to the company's revenue, making up about 36% of its total fiscal year revenue in 2021.
Apple workers interviewed by the Post argued they haven't shared in the company's recent financial successes. Their wages, ranging from $17 to $30 an hour, have not increased to match inflation. Meanwhile, CEO Tim Cook continues to rake in a substantial annual paycheck of $100 million and the company set new sales records last quarter with earnings exceeding $30 billion. The workers noted that while their wages are competitive with other retail chains, they are still struggling to make ends meet.
The Post's analysis in 2021 revealed that unionized retail workers earn significantly higher wages on average than their non-union counterparts. Moreover, the win rate of union elections has drastically increased in recent years, standing at nine out of ten in 2020. Union organizers are reportedly targeting major retailers like Starbucks, where over 70 stores in 20 states have begun unionization efforts.
However, organizing in the tech sector has proven challenging. In 2021, Apple dismissed Janneke Parrish, an Apple Maps product manager, after she spearheaded a campaign to document alleged discrimination and labor law violations. Retaliation against labor organizers is commonplace at tech giants such as Amazon and Google. Amazon's infamous hostility towards unions saw a union drive at an Alabama warehouse fail in 2021, but it's currently facing increased worker mobilization.
Apple didn't respond to requests for comment. The broader context suggests that while there's no direct information about Apple retail employees' unionization efforts, labor movements and unionization attempts are ongoing and complex, impacting various sectors of the workforce. The success rate of these efforts specifically for Apple retail employees is not provided in reliable sources.
- The workers organizing to unionize at Apple stores believe that the company's technological advancements and future profits should translate into better wages for them, given that their current earnings haven't kept pace with inflation.
- The trend of higher wages for unionized retail workers, as reported by Unionstats, might serve as a potential incentive for more Apple stores to consider the unionization process, amidst their significant contributions to Apple's revenue.
- Despite the challenges in organizing within the tech sector, as exemplified by Apple's dismissal of Janneke Parrish and Amazon's failed union drive, the average worker's living standards are still meriting consideration in the future stages of tech companies' business strategies.
- With the success rate of union elections on the rise across various sectors, Apple retail workers could draw inspiration from the significant impact of unions on average wages and working conditions, as demonstrated by major retailers like Starbucks.
