Apple Faces Allegations from Labor Board Regarding Nationwide Implementation of Illegitimate Employee Policies
Apple's workers have found themselves in hot water once again, this time with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing the tech giant of maintaining a slew of illegal policies for its employees across the nation. This fresh wave of accusations, filed by the NLRB's Los Angeles office, adds to a growing list of cases against Apple, focusing on their anti-union actions at various stores.
The complaint, filed last Friday, highlights a string of unlawful policies Apple allegedly imposed on its workers. The policy violations encompass confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure policies, non-compete policies, misconduct policies, and social media policies, which, according to the NLRB, go against the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The Los Angeles office spent extensive time investigating, with the case stemming from charges made against Apple in 2021. Yet, despite their efforts to reach a settlement, Apple and the NLRB failed to come to an agreement, prompting the filing of the complaint.
The NLRB has a history of confronting Apple over its labor practices. Since 2021, Apple has settled six cases with the NLRB and associated unions to address unfair labor practice charges. Three more complaints from regional offices are currently pending rulings, and the NLRB is investigating 30 additional cases across 11 states. This latest complaint, however, targets Apple's policies at all its locations, making it distinct from previous cases that focused on union busting at individual stores and offices.
Back in May, the NLRB affirmed an administrative law judge's findings that Apple illegally interrogated workers at a New York City store over their unionization efforts and prohibited them from sharing pro-union flyers. Although Apple has appealed the decision, it remained a significant blow to the company's reputation. In June 2023, the NLRB regional office in Oakland, California, filed a complaint against Apple for allegedly firing, disciplining, threatening, and interrogating an employee for engaging in protected union activity at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. And in December 2022, the NLRB's Atlanta office accused the company of interrogating employees and forcing them to attend anti-union meetings. Both cases are yet to receive rulings from NLRB administrative law judges.
Despite these challenging circumstances, employees at two Apple stores in Oklahoma City and Towson, Maryland, have managed to form unions. The Oklahoma City store workers ratified their first contract with the company last week, following a positive vote to authorize a strike.
Apple, as of yet, has not responded to a request for comment.
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The tech giant, Apple, faces another setback with the NLRB accusing them of using numerous illegal policies across their stores, leading to a comprehensive complaint filed in 2023. The NLRB is particularly concerned about Apple's use of non-compete, confidentiality, misconduct, and social media policies, which they claim violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
This latest complaint differs from previous cases, as it targets Apple's policies at all its locations rather than focusing on union busting at individual stores. Since 2021, Apple has settled six cases with the NLRB and associated unions, yet three more complaints are currently pending rulings.
Apple's ongoing disputes with the NLRB and associated unions have not deterred workers at two of its stores in Oklahoma City and Towson, Maryland. Despite Apple's response, these workers managed to form unions, with the Oklahoma City store ratifying their first contract with the company last week.