Maryland Apple Store staff file for union election

Posted:
in General Discussion

The Communication Workers of America says that over 70% of Maryland's Apple Bethesda retail and repair staff have filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.

Modern storefront with large illuminated logo, glass facade, and minimalistic interior featuring wooden tables. Trees without leaves are around the entrance.
Apple Bethesda, Maryland. (Source: Apple)



Following the Communication Workers of America (CWA) achieving its first collective-bargained contract with Apple for the Apple Oklahoma City store, it is now working with Apple Bethesda. According to the CWA, over 70% of the store's 59 workers have signed union authorization cards.

"We're honored to welcome the workers at the Bethesda Row Apple store in Maryland as members of CWA," said Johnny Brown, President of CWA Local 2108. "Increasingly more and more workers... are exercising their right to organize, bringing greater protections to union members in the tech and video game industry."

"In the past, we've seen Apple choose to undermine its employees' right to organize," continued Brown. "We call on Apple to change course, live up to its credo, and respect workers' right to form a union."

The CWA says that Apple has worked with anti-union consultants and "deployed aggressive, sometimes illegal, tactics" to prevent staff joining unions.

"It has been inspiring to see our colleagues in Oklahoma City and Towson organize and win better working conditions and job protections at the bargaining table," Peter Cascio, described as an Operations Specialist at Apple, said in the CWA's statement. "Their efforts have made it clear that a union is not only better for workers, but better for the company."

"My colleagues and I at the Apple Bethesda Row store in Maryland care deeply about our jobs and want to secure the transparency, pay, benefits, and job stability that we deserve," he continued.

Separately, the National Labor Relations Board has previously ruled that Apple must cease and desist its anti-union actions. In 2022, an Apple anti-union briefing document was leaked after being circulated to retail store managers.

Apple has not commented on the CWA's announcement about the Apple Bethesda store. However, also in 2022, Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien decried all unionization efforts in a video sent to staff.

"I worry about what it would mean to put another organization in the middle of our relationship," she said. "An organization that doesn't have a deep understanding of Apple or our business, and most importantly, one that I do not believe shares our commitment to you."

That video was circulated in May 2022. In November of that year, one Apple retail worker was reported as saying that complaining about conditions is as effective as "writing to Santa."



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    Good luck to those that sign up with a union. Short term gain for long term pain. 
    timpetusiOS_Guy80macxpress
  • Reply 2 of 11
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,726member
    Good luck to Apple to stopping the union. Long term gain for short term pain.
  • Reply 3 of 11
    ronnronn Posts: 682member
    Good luck to the union organizers for asserting their rights. Getting a majority of workers to sign up is a herculean task. As is maintaining majority support once the company is notified of the unionization efforts.

    I'm sure Apple will continue to illegally interfere as they've done in other union drives. There's really no incentive for them to stop since being found guilty yields no penalties and it takes years for a ruling.

    For those that stick to their guns, unionizing will mean better pay, benefits and working environments.
    muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 4 of 11
    jibjib Posts: 65member
    If the vote goes through, this is another Apple Store that I will not purchase at.


  • Reply 5 of 11
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,726member
    ronn said:
    I'm sure Apple will continue to illegally interfere as they've done in other union drives. There's really no incentive for them to stop since being found guilty yields no penalties and it takes years for a ruling.
    If you would like to back up your claims that Apple breaks the law, I would be happy to read your explanation. Currently I am unaware of any lawbreaking on Apple's part. Please cite the law Apple is breaking. Is it a state or federal law?
  • Reply 6 of 11
    jib said:
    If the vote goes through, this is another Apple Store that I will not purchase at.


    LOL no one asked. no one cares.
    tiredskills
  • Reply 7 of 11
    ronnronn Posts: 682member
    ronn said:
    I'm sure Apple will continue to illegally interfere as they've done in other union drives. There's really no incentive for them to stop since being found guilty yields no penalties and it takes years for a ruling.
    If you would like to back up your claims that Apple breaks the law, I would be happy to read your explanation. Currently I am unaware of any lawbreaking on Apple's part. Please cite the law Apple is breaking. Is it a state or federal law?
    You must have recurring memory loss as you've made comment(s) on post(s) here about Apple violating the Federal Labor Relations Act (FLRA.) There were rulings in at least three stores: two in New York City (World Trade Center & Grand Central Station) and Georgia (Cumberland Mall). They also were accused of violating the law by unionizers in Maryland (Towson) and the accusations were so credible that the NLRB complaint had Apple cave-in with the first successful unionization and collectively bargained contract for one of their stores this past August. Last month Oklahoma's union was the 2nd successful store to get a collectively bargained contract after Apple settled the complaint put forth by the NLRB for Apple's illegal activity.
    muthuk_vanalingamfelix01tiredskills
  • Reply 8 of 11
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,368member
    laytech said:
    Good luck to those that sign up with a union. Short term gain for long term pain. 
    Those that work for Amazon, Uber, and Lyft might disagree…. Unionized fire sprinkler pipe fitters might also disagree too when it’s time for retirement after a life time of work. I thought Trumpets (maga) were all in on American workers and their needs and long-term well-being or is that just another lie.
    edited October 12 muthuk_vanalingamdewmeronntiredskills
  • Reply 9 of 11
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,931member
    jib said:
    If the vote goes through, this is another Apple Store that I will not purchase at.


    LOL no one asked. no one cares.
    Nobody ever asks anyone to comment..this is why it's an open forum. 
  • Reply 10 of 11
    Oh no! The sky will fall in.

    Why does this have to be done store by store? Why can’t Apple employees in say a state all vote and join the union in one go and all together? What about the same US wide?
  • Reply 11 of 11
    Hedware said:
    Oh no! The sky will fall in.

    Why does this have to be done store by store? Why can’t Apple employees in say a state all vote and join the union in one go and all together? What about the same US wide?
    Because it's hard enough to organise labour locally, let alone nationally.  If enough stores unionise then at some point they may combine.
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