First in the U.S. Apple Store workers agree to Union
Three Apple employees claimed that the union drive lost some support amid a corporate campaign designed to persuade workers to not organize.
Eric Brown, who works at Towson Apple Store, said that “they got a lot people to waiver… they definitely pulled some folks that we thought were initially supporters.”
Brown claimed that they were able overcome these tactics because organizers in Atlanta had prepared them for what to expect.
He said, “They let us understand some of their talking points and strategies and we were able let people know some things they might try.”
After the vote, Josh Lipton, Apple’s spokesperson declined to comment.
On Saturday night, about 20 Apple employees visited the Towson Town Centre.
Some of them were there during the vote count. DeLane Adams, spokesperson for IAM, said that the group then went to the parking garage of the center, where they clapped and celebrated with IAM members who were there.
Robert Martinez Jr., President of IAM International said that he applauded the courage shown by CORE members in Towson’s Apple store for achieving this historic win. They made a tremendous sacrifice for thousands Apple employees throughout the country who were watching this election closely.
At least two other Apple Stores are trying to organize workers, one in New York, and one in Atlanta. This was the first location where workers could file documents with the National Labor Relations Board. The Communications Workers of America withdrew their request to hold an election in the area last month. They stated that Apple’s “repeated violations of National Labor Relations Act” had made it impossible for workers to file documents with the National Labor Relations Board.
The organizing group also sent a message to the workers of the store saying that it would “continue the fight” and reset.
Rebecca Givan, Rutgers University associate professor of labor studies, called Saturday’s result a major win for workers in technology and retail — especially for Apple employees working outside Towson.
She said, “We’ll see Apple workers all over the country reaching out and learning more about this,” “And to see how they won such an overwhelming victory.”
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