Atlanta retail employees accuse Apple of union busting, possibly breaking labor laws

Last month, Apple Store employees in Atlanta began the process of unionizing; today those same employees are accusing the tech giant of union busting. Communications Workers of America accuse Apple of violating National Labor Relations Act. The company has been reportedly holding captive audience meetings to counter an ongoing union drive at the Cumberland Mall store.

While employees love Apple, they are asking for better wages and benefits. Cumberland is currently one of three Apple Store locations working on unionizing while more are in the process of organizing.

The company has not yet made a statement about unionizing, but it has hired Littler Mendelson’s anti-union lawyers to assist. The company has started to post notes in retail shops highlighting Apple’s advantages as well as its diversity- and inclusion commitments.

Unlawful as per the NLRB

According to The Verge, captive audience meetings are a tactic where bosses require employees to attend meetings with anti-union messaging. It is generally allowed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) until the 24-hour period before a union election.

However, a recent memo from NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo stated otherwise. Abruzzo noted that these meetings violate the National Labor Relations Act and that the NLRB will take aggressive action against the tactic. Per Abruzzo:

This license to coerce is an anomaly in labor law, inconsistent with the Act’s protection of employees’ free choice. It is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of employers’ speech rights.

This policy is relevant to Apple’s retail store management policies. Employees start the day with a “daily download” meeting to be updated on what’s new within the company and store. Apple Store employees have been reaching out to The Verge, mentioning how management has increasingly incorporated topics like culture, benefits, and anti-union messaging into these meetings.

More on Apple Stores unionizing:

• Apple taps same legal team as Starbucks for unionization fight ahead
• Apple Store unions could represent an opportunity for Apple, not a threat