Apple still suppresses employees discussing pay equity, says Labor Board

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The US National Labor Relations Board is again accusing Apple management of illegally deterring employee discussions of pay and bias issues, part of a general anti-union campaign by the iPhone maker.

Logo of the National Labor Relations Board featuring a bald eagle holding a shield with stars and stripes, surrounded by a blue circular border with text.
Apple has faced numerous employee allegations across 2024.



In addition to a raft of ongoing complaints, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) general counsel said that Apple forced engineer Cher Scarlett to quit the company. She claims she faced pressure to leave after she attempted to post an online survey about pay, experience levels, and other Apple employee information.

The board also accuses Apple of barring workers from creating a channel in the workplace messaging app Slack to discuss pay inequities and performance incentives. Apple has rebutted the new complaint, the third time the NLRB amplified employee concerns in just the month of October.

"We strongly disagree with these claims and will continue to share the facts at the hearing," Apple said in a statement on the matter to Reuters. Scarlett's lawyer, Laurie Burgess, said her client was "delighted" to see the NLRB issue a complaint against Apple.

"[We] look forward to holding [Apple] accountable at trial for its extensive violations of workers' labor rights," she added. Apple has repeatedly said it strives to maintain a "positive and inclusive workplace" and takes employee complaints seriously.

Employee complaints against Apple pile up



In October, Apple was accused by the NLRB of forcing employees to sign illegal contracts and suppressing unionization efforts. It has previously been accused by other employees of supressing pay and bias discrimination discussions on Slack and other social media platforms.

In May, the labor board ruled that Apple illegally interrogated staff about union activities at the Apple World Trade Center store. It was also found to have restricted the distribution of union flyers.

Apple has only two retail outlets that have unionized among its 274 US stores. A recent unionization effort in Short Hills, NJ failed, according to advocates, because of Apple management's anti-union tactics.

A hearing will be held in June 2025 on the latest charges, involving an administrative law judge, who can issue a ruling for one side or the other. NLRB decisions can be challenged in federal court, but the agency itself cannot issue punative damages awards, or hold management accountable for violations.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    8002580025 Posts: 182member
    Wages and salaries are a private issue. Even in this tell-all-society, it's nobodys' business what another employee makes or does not make. Using company connectivity/hardware, and/or a company-specific app, for non-work related activities, is generally considered to be unacceptable, no matter where one is employed
  • Reply 2 of 6
    brianusbrianus Posts: 173member
    80025 said:
    Wages and salaries are a private issue. Even in this tell-all-society, it's nobodys' business what another employee makes or does not make. Using company connectivity/hardware, and/or a company-specific app, for non-work related activities, is generally considered to be unacceptable, no matter where one is employed
    lol it just wouldn’t be the AppleInsider forum without the same old takes from management lickspittles. Can’t really imagine what could be more work-related than pay…. the entire reason anyone works there.
    StrangeDaysAlex1N12Strangersgrandact73Hedware
  • Reply 3 of 6
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 13,103member
    80025 said:
    Wages and salaries are a private issue. Even in this tell-all-society, it's nobodys' business what another employee makes or does not make. Using company connectivity/hardware, and/or a company-specific app, for non-work related activities, is generally considered to be unacceptable, no matter where one is employed
    Nonsense. The law in many states makes clear workers can talk about what they’re paid. It’s in their interest to do so, to ensure they aren’t being taken advantage of. Keeping this secret only benefits wealthy corporations, not the worker class. 

    One can very well argue that pay equity is work-related. But as for non-work discussion, you may be shocked to find most company have numerous Slack channels for any number of non-work topics. What an absurd claim. 
    edited November 3 avon b7Alex1N12Strangers
  • Reply 4 of 6
    godofbiscuitssfgodofbiscuitssf Posts: 102member
    80025 said:
    Wages and salaries are a private issue. Even in this tell-all-society, it's nobodys' business what another employee makes or does not make. Using company connectivity/hardware, and/or a company-specific app, for non-work related activities, is generally considered to be unacceptable, no matter where one is employed
    Horrible take.  And untrue.
    Alex1N12Strangersgrandact73
  • Reply 5 of 6
    beowulfschmidtbeowulfschmidt Posts: 2,352member
    80025 said:
    Wages and salaries are a private issue. Even in this tell-all-society, it's nobodys' business what another employee makes or does not make. Using company connectivity/hardware, and/or a company-specific app, for non-work related activities, is generally considered to be unacceptable, no matter where one is employed

    It is a violation of federal labor law for an employer to forbid discussing wages with other employees.  However, the law does NOT require that an employer to provide a forum for that discussion.  From what I have read, I suspect that Apple is claiming that not allowing company resources, i.e. a Slack channel, to be used for that discussion is not illegal.

    However, legal hasn't mattered much to either corporations or government agencies for quite some time now.  All that matters is who appoints the judges who make the decisions.
  • Reply 6 of 6
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,417member
    brianus said:
    80025 said:
    Wages and salaries are a private issue. Even in this tell-all-society, it's nobodys' business what another employee makes or does not make. Using company connectivity/hardware, and/or a company-specific app, for non-work related activities, is generally considered to be unacceptable, no matter where one is employed
    lol it just wouldn’t be the AppleInsider forum without the same old takes from management lickspittles. Can’t really imagine what could be more work-related than pay…. the entire reason anyone works there.
    What is the problem meeting after hours in person or on the weekends doing the same and discussing everything that needs to be discussed this sounds like laziness on her part, if I was trying to form a Union at a company that I worked at I would make sure that I would do everything in person with everyone after hours. Pure laziness if she wasn’t doing the same in short you don’t give the company any excuse it sounds like entitlement to use company resources. The litmus test is if you’re willing to do the work after hours if not, you ain’t serious. Pro Union….
    edited November 4
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