Workers Vote to Become Second Unionized US Apple Store
The labor movement sweeping the United States notched another win Friday when workers in Oklahoma City voted to become the second unionized Apple Store in the nation, following the first victory in Maryland earlier this year.
Citing a preliminary tally from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), CNN reported that 88 of 95 workers at the Penn Square Mall store weighed in, and 56 of them—or 64%—voted to be represented by Communication Workers of America (CWA).
“We felt like we had the majority support, and as long a people got out and cast their vote, we would win,” Leigha Briscoe, a 28-year-old on the organizing committee at the store, told CNN after the ballots count.
“Let me congratulate the Apple Store workers in Oklahoma City for voting to become the second unionized Apple Store in the U.S.” tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “Last year, Apple made a record $95 billion profit. Its billionaire CEO made $99 million in 2021. It’s time for Apple to treat its workers with respect.”
Besides, according to the Penn Square Labor Alliance (PSLA), supporters of the union drive are working toward fair compensation, career development, bonuses and benefits that align with those of corporate employees, hiring from under-represented communities, labor conditions that respect health and well-being, improved safety, and “an influential role in decision-making to ensure our daily operations match our publicly stated values, flexibility to allow for civic participation, and opportunities for paid volunteer work.”
Also, Public Radio Tulsa noted that Apple has received union-busting complaints from both the PSLA and the NLRB.
Moreover, More Perfect Union reported in early October that “Oklahoma City workers say they’ve faced a series of escalating anti-union tactics from management, including regular one-on-one ‘walk and talk’ conversations between managers and workers, roundtable discussions about unionization, and, most recently, an influx of additional managers in the store.”
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the Friday’s development, Apple said in a statement to CNN that “we believe the open, direct, and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to provide an excellent experience for our customers, and for our teams.”
“We’re proud to provide our team members with strong compensation and exceptional benefits,” the company added. “Since 2018, we’ve increased our starting rates in the U.S. by 45% and we’ve made many significant enhancements to our industry-leading benefits.”
Originally published at Commondreams.org.
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