Apple Store Employees Start Collecting Signatures at Grand Central Terminal for Forming Union
According to some reports, Apple workers at Grand Central Terminal in New York City started forming a union by collecting signatures. The organisers said they voted to affiliate with the Workers United labour union in February 2022.
Workers United has recently backed the unionisation efforts at Starbucks' stores across the United States.
The organisers are handing out signature cards to encourage workers to express interest in forming a union. If they receive a minimum of 30 per cent of workers signing, they can file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold the election. There has not been a single Apple Store that successfully formed a union.
“Grand Central is an extraordinary store with unique working conditions that make a union necessary to ensure our team has the best possible standards of living in what have proven to be extraordinary times," The organisers' website says.
At the beginning of this year, many Apple stores were ready to unionise because the wages offered could not keep up with the increasing inflation and inferior working conditions.
An Apple spokesperson said, "We are fortunate to have incredible retail team members, and we deeply value everything they bring to Apple. We are pleased to offer strong compensation and benefits for full time and part-time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits."
Following some media reports about the conditions of retail workers at Apple stores, the company increased the benefits of full-time and part-time workers. The pandemic-induced working conditions were more stressful with the changing mask guidance, store closures, and a requirement to submit proof of a COVID-19 booster shot or a negative COVID-19 certificate before work.
