Communications Workers of America File Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Apple Amidst Union Drive

(Atlanta, GA) — In support of Apple retail workers at Atlanta’s Cumberland Mall store, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) formally filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge today against Apple Inc. The workers, who filed for a union election in April, are accusing the company of violating the National Labor Relations Act by requiring workers to listen to anti-union propaganda during mandatory “daily download” meetings. In a memo issued last month, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo explained that, “the Act protects employee’s right to listen as well as their right to refrain from listening to employer speech concerning the exercise of their [right to join a union].”

“Whether or not we join a union should be up to the workers at the store,” said Derrick Bowles who works at the Cumberland store. “By having store managers try to persuade us not to join the union during daily downloads, Apple is putting its thumb on the scale.”

Apple workers launched the Apple Retail Union/CWA to unite behind a shared set of concerns and demand better working conditions. Instead of voluntarily recognizing the union, Apple management is using coercive tactics to attempt to prevent its employees from exercising their rights to stand together and help create a more equitable, sustainable, and diverse workplace. Last week, a leaked memo revealed that Apple has been circulating anti-union talking points for store managers in multiple Apple locations. The company also hired anti-union lawyers from notorious union-busting firm Littler Mendelson in order to quash the union effort.

###

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is an initiative by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) supporting workers’ organizing efforts in the technology and game industries.