The Communications Workers of America – an organization fighting for the workers in the US – has filed two lawsuits against Apple for intimidating its Store workers across branches.
Also, the Cupertino-based company is accused of firing a handful of employees since they’re vouching to unionize. Apple is also accused of forcing its Store employees to sign “release all claims” in exchange for a severance package, so as to suppress the unionizing efforts.
Suppressing the Unionization
Apple has long been accused of undermining the unionization efforts of its Store workers in the US, against which the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) are fighting.
In this pursuit, the CWA has filed two Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) cases against Apple for allegedly firing five employees from the Country Club Plaza store in Kansas City, Missouri, and punishing staff at the Memorial City store in Houston, Texas.
Citing these actions against the fair unionization efforts, Apple was also accused of threatening “detrimental workplace conditions” if they supported CWA, and proceed to unionize. Some were already disciplined in retaliation for their organizing efforts, while some were promised better working conditions if they ditch CWA.
The company was further accused of forcing the expelled store workers to sign a “release of all claims” in exchange for a severance package – which is illegal, as the NLRB last month ruled that employers cannot prevent the former employees from speaking up against them – especially about the working conditions.
Talking about these actions, CWA District 6 Vice President, Claude Cummings Jr said;
“Apple has chosen to continue to break the law, so we will continue to hold the company accountable because no corporation is above the law. Apple’s attempt to interfere with worker organizing is only strengthening the resolve of workers to win a seat at the negotiating table”.