https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/16/apple_decoy_labor_group/ [user] [user] Sign in / up The Register(r) -- Biting the hand that feeds IT [magn] [burg] [burg] Topics Security Security All SecurityCyber-crimePatchesResearchCSO (X) Off-Prem Off-Prem All Off-PremEdge + IoTChannelPaaS + IaaSSaaS (X) On-Prem On-Prem All On-PremSystemsStorageNetworksHPCPersonal Tech (X) Software Software All SoftwareAI + MLApplicationsDatabasesDevOpsOSesVirtualization (X) Offbeat Offbeat All OffbeatDebatesColumnistsScienceGeek's GuideBOFHLegalBootnotesSite NewsAbout Us (X) Vendor Voice Vendor Voice Vendor Voice All Vendor VoiceAmazon Web Services (AWS) Business Transformation CofenseGoogle CloudGoogle Cloud for StartupsOutsystemsRapid7 Supermicro (X) Resources Resources Whitepapers Webinars Newsletters [personalte] Personal Tech 22 comment bubble on white Apple 'created decoy labor group' to derail unionization 22 comment bubble on white You're holding your staff meetings the wrong way icon Thomas Claburn Fri 16 Dec 2022 // 23:26 UTC # Apple has been accused of creating its own labor organization to prevent workers from forming an employee-run union, according to a complaint filed on Friday. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed a complaint with the federal US National Labor Relations Board charging Apple with unfair labor practices. The complaint [PDF] contends Apple created an employer-controlled labor group called "Employee Forum" at Apple's Easton Town Center store in Columbus, Ohio as a way "to stifle union activity." The Apple-run group is described in a pamphlet, according to the CWA, as "a dedicated working group that can be used as a formal means for employees and leaders to provide feedback on both local and retail organization-wide initiatives, policies and practices." [personalte] The CWA says Apple has been opposing worker efforts to organize for better pay and working conditions throughout the year and "has chosen to create a company-controlled union to coax workers away from organizing independently" rather than negotiate. [personalte] [personalte] The complaint also says Apple held "a mandatory captive audience meeting in which its representative stated that [Apple] would refuse to bargain certain subjects if a Union was formed." During this meeting, the complaint says, an Apple store leader asserted that workers could not negotiate over operational concerns and threatened to deny employees the opportunity to have personal conversations with their manager. [personalte] In a memo issued in April, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo asked the NLRB "to find mandatory meetings in which employees are forced to listen to employer speech concerning the exercise of their statutory labor rights, including captive audience meetings, a violation of the National Labor Relations Act." * Google datacenter contractors claim 'retaliation' for talking workers' rights * Judge tells Amazon: Stop retaliating against employees * Google cut contractors off from online 'Share My Salary' spreadsheet, union claims * Amazon CEO accused of trampling labor laws with anti-union comments Recent efforts among Apple employees to organize began in 2021 with the launch of the #AppleToo movement and the subsequent AppleTogether group. By February 2022, according to The Washington Post, there were at least two Apple Store locations preparing to unionize and another six considering doing so. Since then, staff at Apple Stores in Towson, Maryland and in Oklahoma City have officially recognized unions. And organization efforts have recently reached the UK. Employees at the Apple Store in Cumberland Mall, Atlanta, filed for a union election in April but subsequently withdrew that request and alleged that Apple had engaged in unlawful union-busting. Ten days ago, the NLRB found it likely that Apple had violated the law with regard to the Atlanta organization effort, which puts pressure on Apple to agree to a settlement. In St Louis, Missouri, Apple Store employees withdrew a request to vote on a union, based on hostility from Apple management. Workers subsequently asked the NLRB to reject the organization effort by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on the basis that it would not offer any substantive benefit. [personalte] Apple did not respond to a request for comment. (r) Get our Tech Resources # Share Similar topics * Apple * Employment * Law More like these x Similar topics * Apple * Employment * Law * National Labor Relations Board * Trade Union Narrower topics * AirTag * Antitrust * Apple M1 * App stores * Cross-border data flow * Employment Tribunal * Freelancing * iCloud * iMac * iOS * iPad * iPhone * iPod * iTunes * Job cuts * Layoff * Mac * MacBook * Privacy Shield * Safari * Siri * Tim Cook * Umbrella Firm * Working from Home Broader topics * Federal government of the United States * Steve Jobs * Steve Wozniak Similar topics # Share 22 comment bubble on white COMMENTS Similar topics * Apple * Employment * Law More like these x Similar topics * Apple * Employment * Law * National Labor Relations Board * Trade Union Narrower topics * AirTag * Antitrust * Apple M1 * App stores * Cross-border data flow * Employment Tribunal * Freelancing * iCloud * iMac * iOS * iPad * iPhone * iPod * iTunes * Job cuts * Layoff * Mac * MacBook * Privacy Shield * Safari * Siri * Tim Cook * Umbrella Firm * Working from Home Broader topics * Federal government of the United States * Steve Jobs * Steve Wozniak TIP US OFF Send us news --------------------------------------------------------------------- Other stories you might like Egad, did Apple do something right? End-to-end encryption for (most) iCloud services And remember CSAM scanning plan? Forget that was ever a thing Security8 Dec 2022 | 13 Apple preps for 'third-party iOS app stores' in Europe Despite dire predictions about sideloading, iGiant said to be ready to comply with EU law Software14 Dec 2022 | 114 Get ready for $10,000 apps in Apple's software souk With Tim taking his third, natch Software7 Dec 2022 | 17 Unrelenting storage growth drives release of Amazon DocumentDB Elastic Clusters New Amazon DocumentDB feature promises higher storage capacity and support for applications at massive scale Sponsored Feature [personalte] Europe's USB-C deadline: Lightning must be struck from iPhone by December, 2024 Single market's worth $95.12 billion to Apple, so it's not like it had a choice Personal Tech8 Dec 2022 | 92 Apple should pay EUR6m to French data watchdog for tracking users without consent, says official Recommendation from top CNIL advisor claims Cupertino broke EU privacy laws Security13 Dec 2022 | 10 Women sue Apple claiming AirTags helped their stalkers Pair say they were harassed and followed using trackers described in the media as 'stalker-proof' Personal Tech6 Dec 2022 | 100 Apple brings DIY fix-it store to Europe, UK - with gritted teeth There's an iCatch or two: Spare parts expensive, available for few devices Personal Tech7 Dec 2022 | 38 OK, we know iPhones are expensive but... $11 a month for Twitter Blue on iOS? Comment Elon Musk's meeting with Tim Cook at Apple HQ went well, we see Offbeat12 Dec 2022 | 81 Microsoft Teams: A vector for child sexual abuse material with a two-day processing time for complaints Redmond and Cupertino criticized for slow and weak responses by Australian regulator Security16 Dec 2022 | 17 Not all vendors' Arm-powered kit is created equally, benchmark fan finds Shiny silicon plus Rusty drivers will eventually equal openly saucy happiness Personal Tech6 Dec 2022 | 14 Working Apple-1 'Byte Shop' computer expected to fetch $375k+ What do you mean, you don't think historic handwriting is worth it? Offbeat5 Dec 2022 | 11 The Register icon Biting the hand that feeds IT About Us* * Contact us * Advertise with us * Who we are Our Websites* * The Next Platform * DevClass * Blocks and Files Your Privacy* * Cookies Policy * Privacy Policy * T's & C's * Do not sell my personal information Situation Publishing Copyright. All rights reserved (c) 1998-2022 no-js