Apple Glasgow: Retail Unionization Heads Across the Pond

Apple Glasgow - Image via Apple

13 JUNE 2022 - Unionization moves are spreading around Apple. After a spate of stories about Apple stores trying to unionize here in the US, news of the first such move in the UK. A piece in the Glasgow Times says workers at Apple Glasgow have “filed for Voluntary Union Recognition with Apple after joining [the Edinburgh-based labor union] GMB Scotland.”

The piece has Apple Retail employees saying that “low wages, lack of pay transparency and unfair shift patterns” have prompted the unionization move. One anonymous employee is quoted as saying:

In the UK Apple have staff forums, but these are continually shown to be ineffectual and feedback is ignored. It is a one-way conversation. We need our own representatives and a proper voice to change things. People are suffering with the cost-of-living crisis. We need a pay rise, pay transparency and a voice.

The piece also has Scottish secretary of the GMB Louise Gilmour saying:

GMB’s mission is to make work better and we are delighted to give these workers the support they need to unionise in Apple. Times are changing for big tech firms; in the grip of the biggest cost-of-living crisis in 40 years they need to start practicing what they’ve been preaching for years about corporate social responsibility. So rather than fight against the inevitable, Apple must listen to its workers, respect their desire to organise, and work with our reps to make it happen because this drive for recognition isn’t going away.

For its part, Apple said what it’s said since unionization moves started to take hold in the States earlier this spring:

We are fortunate to have incredible retail team members and we deeply value everything they bring to Apple. We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits, including private healthcare, enhanced parental leaves, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits for every team member.