Apple: Unions want to establish themselves

Apple: Unions want to establish themselves

San Francisco, 4/24/2022

An Apple retail store in Atlanta, Georgia, is the first to file for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The group of 107 eligible workers would call itself the Apple Workers Union, according to the application. The store, located in Atlanta’s Cumberland Mall, would be the first unionized Apple store if more than 50% of workers vote in favor.

More than 70% of workers have signed a statement of support for the union, far exceeding the required 30%.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union represents Apple employees. The CWA has also worked with workers from Verizon, AT&T, Google Fiber, Starbucks and REI.

The NLRB will now formally review the petition and help organize the vote, which the CWA proposes will be held locally May 5-7.

Starting pay at Apple is $20 an hour. Organizers are seeking an increase to $28, which they say is the minimum with which an employee can comfortably pay for a one-bedroom apartment.

Workers at Apple’s retail store at Grand Central Terminal in New York City are also taking steps to unionize. Organizers are currently collecting authorization cards from workers that are required to file a union petition with the NLRB.