Workers at Apple Retail Store in Atlanta Hold Action Uplifting Worker Vision

Atlanta, GA—Today Apple retail workers at the Apple Cumberland Mall store in Atlanta, Georgiaheld an action at their store location and unveiled the Apple Cumberland Mall Union Vision Statement. A group of workers held a short action in front of the retail store before entering and posting the workers’ union vision statement in the worker breakroom. 

“We want to be clear to Apple that everyone is truly standing together. We are standing together because we believe in what we’re fighting for—a voice on the job, fair wages, career advancement opportunities, benefits and bonuses in line with corporate staff, equitable recruitment training and development for BIPOC workers, and a healthy and safe environment where every worker can thrive. We are a core component of Apple’s success and we’re ready for our fair share,” said Sydney Rhodes, an employee and member of the union. 

On Wednesday, April 20, 2022 workers filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), becoming the first group of Apple retail workers in the United States to seek formal recognition for their union. The workers will be represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Currently over 70% of the group of more than 100 eligible workers have signed union authorization cards.

Yesterday, Apple announced the financial results for its fiscal 2022 second quarter ended March 26, 2022. The Company posted a March quarter revenue record of $97.3 billion, growing nearly 9% from the quarter last year.

“Our vision is to create an environment where Apple’s retail workers are compensated fairly, heard genuinely, and treated justly, and to enrich the workplace by building a foundation of care and trust, both for ourselves and our customers. At a company worth trillions, no worker should be struggling to live due to poor pay and lackluster benefits. Together, we can build an Apple that lives up to our shared values,” said Elli Daniels, Product Zone worker and union member. 

In their vision statement workers have made clear they are working towards: 

• Fair compensation: Transparency around pay inequality, cost of living adjustments, and real living wages for all employees.

• Career Development: Dedication to training and developing our employees for internal promotion as the primary method for filling open roles and a clear path for advancement.

• Corporate-Retail Parity: Benefits and bonuses that are in-line with corporate employees, fair RSU allocation, and a matching RSU vesting schedule.

• Equity: Agreement to recruit, hire, train, and mentor BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color) employees for advancement to leadership and decision-making roles.

• Health and Well-Being: A work environment that takes mental health seriously, promotes and encourages physical health, and advocates for and supports team members with disabilities and/or accessibility needs.

• Safety: Adequate measures to value and protect employee safety, employee input on operating models, and better enforcement of current policies, on COVID and otherwise.

• Ideals: An influential role in decision-making to ensure our daily operations match our publicly-stated values, flexibility to allow for civic participation, and opportunities for paid volunteer work

An NLRB hearing on the workers’ union election petition is scheduled for May 11. Apple’s Statement of Position regarding the details of the election is due to be filed by May 3. CWA’s response is due by May 6. 

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The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.