NLRB accuses Apple of illegally restricting workers' social media use
The US National Labor Relations Board has received a new complaint, accusing Apple's management of restricting, monitoring, and interfering with workers' rights through unlawful rules regarding the use of Slack.
Apple accused again of interfering with workers' attempts to organize. Credit: Laurenz Heymann/Unsplash
The complaint filed with the NLRB charges that Apple's social media policies bar workers from creating new Slack channels, demanding that workplace concerns go to either a manager or an established "People Support" channel. The company said in a statement that it "strongly disagrees" with the new claims, and is committed to maintaining "a positive and inclusive workplace."
The new accusation follows on the heels of a complaint earlier in October that accused Apple of forcing employees to sign illegal confidentiality, nondisclosure, and non-compete agreements. Now, the NLRB says Apple may be imposing what the board calls "overly broad" misconduct and social media policies.
What's old is new again
The latest case regarding interference in workers' social media rights is an outgrowth from a nearly three-year-old case by Janneke Parrish. She was fired by Apple in 2021 for her employee and union activism, which included her use of Slack and other social media outlets.
Parrish has previously accused Apple of sex and race discrimination, and called for allowing remote worker positions created during the COVID pandemic to become permanent positions. She has also advocated for permission to distribute a pay equity survey, among other complaints.
In response to the previous complaints, Apple denied the accusations and said it respects its employees rights to discuss working conditions, hours, and wages.
In all the ongoing cases, Apple will need to reach a settlement with the NLRB that addresses its concerns, or face a hearing by an administrative judge in February. Those decisions would be reviewed by a five-member labor board, but could be appealed in federal court, reports Reuters.
"We look forward to holding Apple accountable at trial for implementing facially unlawful rules," said Laurie Burgess, Parrish's lawyer in the ongoing complaint. "and terminating employees for engaging in the core protected activity of calling out gender discrimination and other civil rights violations that permeated the workplace."
The new complaint calls for Parrish to be reimbursed for lost income and other financial impacts of her firing, and for Apple to rescind its allegedly unlawful policies. A date for a hearing to question Apple on the most recent allegations has not yet been set.
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There was only one person in the design department, I worked in that got caught using social media. He got a warning he didn’t get fired, but the damage was done he had lost the trust of his immediate boss and within six months. He left of his own accord, with the salaries that Apple is paying in the front of house and the stock options. I do not understand anyone who would want to use social media on the job if it’s really important and the people you’re communicating with are your friend or you’re close to them why can’t you talk to them after work or on the weekends if you have some type of grievance or just want to gossip about work. Why jeopardize your career for immediate gratification?