Apple Towson union files labor complaint against Apple over withholding benefits
Apple's first unionized retail location in the U.S. has filed a labor complaint against the tech giant, accusing the company of unfairly withholding health and education benefits from members.
Apple Towson Town Center
In October, IAM-CORE sent a letter to Tim Cook, stating that they were disappointed to learn that Apple withheld information about new health and education benefits that would be made available to non-union employees next year.
The union has now filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for excluding its members from the benefits.
"Our union will fight to ensure all labor laws are followed throughout this negotiation process," said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan in a statement.
"One of the reasons the employees in Towson joined the IAM was because they knew our union would use every resource to protect them. We are hopeful that this won't be the normal procedure before we sit with Apple at the negotiating table. Our members in Towson want to be heard in the workplace, and securing a first contract will be the first step towards achieving that goal."
In June, the NLRB certified the union election. It came to be known as the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE) and is partnered with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Apple claimed that it would not challenge the vote and that it would plan to bargain with workers at the store "in good faith."
Read on AppleInsider
Apple Towson Town Center
In October, IAM-CORE sent a letter to Tim Cook, stating that they were disappointed to learn that Apple withheld information about new health and education benefits that would be made available to non-union employees next year.
The union has now filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for excluding its members from the benefits.
"Our union will fight to ensure all labor laws are followed throughout this negotiation process," said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan in a statement.
"One of the reasons the employees in Towson joined the IAM was because they knew our union would use every resource to protect them. We are hopeful that this won't be the normal procedure before we sit with Apple at the negotiating table. Our members in Towson want to be heard in the workplace, and securing a first contract will be the first step towards achieving that goal."
In June, the NLRB certified the union election. It came to be known as the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE) and is partnered with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Apple claimed that it would not challenge the vote and that it would plan to bargain with workers at the store "in good faith."
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Congrats on unionizing!! !
Buuuuuut
If the NLRB finds that Apple was giving non unionized workers benefits that they were not offering for the Union contract that could get them in hot water.
If the NLRB finds that Apple is offering substantially better pay and benefits to non Union workers doing the same job in an effort to get people to quit the Union, to bust it, that could get them in hot water.
If the NLRB finds that Apple is improving pay and benefits for non union workers, while delaying the start of negotiations, and/or not negotiating in good faith, that could get them in hot water.
It is up to the NLRB to see if there is a pattern here. Apple may have broken the law. Only time will tell.
union is not we will get everything you get and more. Are you joking?
it’s whatever the union can negotiate with the store, if no agreement, strike. Apple is free to offer non union employees anything they want and it’s up to the unions to negotiate that into next contract. There is not “ we want everything they got no matter what we agreed to”
Apple needs to just close that store and make an example of these idiots. Or let them strike. I can find them replacements at half the price at the local community college
also legal actions means increased union dues next round.
Apple should fight them all the way until their union dries up.
The only time i can think of of it being against labor laws, to pay non union employees more than union employees, is when it's an "open shop". In an "open shop", the union represents all employees but the employees are not required to join the union or pay union dues (in order to work there and receive all union negotiated benefits). Here, the employer can not pay non-union employees more than union members, as the employer has an agreement to have non union employees under the same contract as the union employees. This would be a case of union busting, if the employer started offering non union employees more benefits. Right now, the Towson Store union do not represent all Apple employees, regardless if they are non union employees and the union have no say in what Apple offers them in benefits. But the union can negotiate for those benefits, regardless if Apple offers them of not. The union is under no obligation to only negotiate for benefits that Apple only offers at the bargaining table.
You have to remember who the NLRB really represents. They represent the employees and their rights to organize and bargain for better benefits, with or without a union. The fact that Apple employees were able to receive better benefits without a union, in not against any policy set by the NLRB. Even if it might amount to bribing employees to not join a union. It would only be against NLRB policy if Apple were to coerce employees by reducing benefits or use threat of termination, if they were organizing to fight for better benefits or to form or join a union. If employees can get better benefits by not having to join a union and pay union dues, all the better for the employees, as far as the NLBR is concern. And as far as the NLBR is concern, the union employees can negotiate for those extra benefit offered to non union employees, regardless if Apple offers them or not. So long as Apple negotiate in good faith.
https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights
Plus the complaint would not necessarily be comparing to the Apple Stores in SF. If there is another Apple Store in the same area that is getting better wages and benefits but is non Union, that would be the comparison. This would be especially true if those increases were not on the negotiating table. Once again neither you nor I know what has been offered, or even if Apple has started negotiating.