Workers at one of Apple’s leading retail stores in New York City are taking the first steps towards unionization. As The Washington Post first reported this weekend, workers at the Grand Central Apple Store are now collecting signatures to begin the unionization process. If successful, this will be the first time that Apple Store employees are unionized.
A February report indicated that some U.S. Apple Store workers are in the early stages of unionization. Now a website launched by the organizers of this effort indicates that the effort has officially begun.
Organizers of the unionization effort call this initiative “The United Fruit Stand Workers.” The group claims to have voted on February 21 to join Workers United. The Washington Post describes Workers United as “a national union that has supported successful efforts to unite Starbucks employees across the country.”
When rumors of unionization plans began, Apple reportedly orchestrated various “union busting” tactics. Organizers say the company tried to convince employees that unionization would be a bad idea and involved a number of compromises.
However, despite Apple’s apparent anti-union tactics, the company’s Grand Central Station workers are taking the next steps in their unionization process. The Fruit Stand Workers United website reports that organizers at the store have begun an official petition to form a union.
More specific details are unclear, The Washington Post notes that “at least three other Apple retail stores are also in the process of unionizing.”
Apple Store employees are stepping up their unionization efforts for a variety of reasons, including the continued impact of inflation, as well as stressful working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. An excerpt from the Fruit Stand Workers United website explains:
“Grand Central is an extraordinary store with unique working conditions that make the union essential to ensure the best possible standard of living for our team in what has proved to be an extraordinary time with the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and consumer price inflation.”
If Grand Central employees are successful in their unionization efforts, it will be the first time Apple Store employees have done so. Organizers hope the successful unionization campaign at Grand Central Station will “inspire other Apple Stores across the country to follow suit.”
Sight
Apple isn’t the only company in the US facing union pressure from employees. Starbucks workers across the country are also ramping up unionization efforts, and these are early signs of success. Starbucks’ unionization efforts even led to CEO Howard Schultz getting into a public confrontation with a barista at a California location.
As for Apple, some retail employees took part in a small strike on Christmas Eve due to working conditions and wage stagnation.
Apple has addressed some complaints from retail employees about recent changes to vacation hours and paid vacation days. However, those employees who want to unionize clearly want the company to do more.
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