Apple Retail Locations Start Unionization Moves

Apple Grand Central Terminal - Image via Apple

Union Moves in a Big Apple Apple Store

25 APRIL 2022 - Individual Apple stores in the U.S. are making moves toward unionization. 9 to 5 Mac has word of “Fruit Stand Workers United,” an attempt to form a union in Apple’s Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Their website, at fsworkersunited.org, has organizers saying:

Grand Central is an extraordinary store with unique working conditions that make a union necessary to ensure our team has the best possible standards of living in what have proven to be extraordinary times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and once-in-a-generation consumer price inflation.

The site says organizers are looking for three things, broadly: 

…better pay for all covered workers, more robust benefits, and a thorough analysis of our work conditions, mainly relating to health and safety.

Organizers are currently in the signature gathering phase, according to the site. No word on a timeline for next steps. 

Atlanta’s Apple Cumberland Mall - Image via Apple

Union Moves in a Big Peach Apple Store

Slightly ahead of their friends up north, a piece from TechCrunch says workers at the Cumberland Mall Apple store in Atlanta, Georgia have filed for a union election. According to the piece:

Over 70% of the store’s 100 employees signed union authorization cards, demonstrating their interest in moving forward with formal recognition. 

Additionally, the piece says:

If more than 50% of employees vote to unionize through an election hosted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), then Apple will be required to recognize the bargaining unit. 

The piece has Derrick Bowles, Apple Genius and union proponent, saying in a statement:

Apple is a profoundly positive place to work, but we know that the company can better live up to their ideals and so we’re excited to be joining together with our coworkers to bring Apple to the negotiating table and make this an even better place to work.

No word in that piece on when the vote will be held.