The significance of Apple Towson Town Center as the first store to unionize has been downplayed by Apple, which is doubling down on its efforts to comfort retail employees. According to employees who were present in recent meetings, Apple is arguing that "grass is not green on the other side."
Apple retail employees nationwide were invited to an FAQ-style meeting where store management attempted to answer questions on Apple and create an open environment to discuss unions. The idea of unionization has taken hold with many employees seeking improved working conditions after Apple Towson became the first Apple store to unionize.
The topic of the union vote at Apple Towson was addressed by several store managers, but it was still an issue for others. Last week during a "Daily Download," the term used for 15- to 30-minute meetings before stores open, Apple leadership appeared cheerful and happy to discuss unionization efforts. After the Download was released, we were all expecting a new manager or something, but we didn't hear anything. It turned out to be about Baltimore. We weren't sure why they were excited to discuss it.
According to multiple sources who attended the meeting, the talking points last week were an attempt by Apple executives to argue that the vote to unionize will hurt the company's relationship with its employees. They wanted to make it seem like Apple Towson had failed. It was a typical scare tactic that didn't work.
The meeting that took place last Thursday was optional for attendance, according to leaders. Employees were reluctant to miss the meeting as it could be seen as an unwillingness to hear Apple's perspective and so they placed targets on their backs.
The meeting was designed to answer questions that were selected by Apple.
According to employees who attended the meeting, the answers from Apple leadership seemed to intimidate employees and downplay the benefits of joining a union, such as emphasizing that employees cannot leave a union once they join, and that joining a union does not guarantee better benefits and pay.
Store leaders were able to give employees a chance to ask questions, but they weren't able to give answers on the spot. "I don't have the answer to that, but I'll get back to you after I find out," was the go-to response when asked if Apple is providing resources to employees who want to join a union.
There is an apple store in Maryland. Apple Store formed a union.
Store leaders said that negotiations between Apple and the union had fallen through and had been unsuccessful. The bargaining committee is still in the early stages of training and preparing for talks with Apple.
Apple offered merit-based pay increases to its retail staff. The increases usually happen in the fall, but Apple moved them up to the summer in an effort to make employees feel better.
During the meetings with staff, Apple claimed that the pay raises were coincidental and that union efforts did not affect the company's decision to give the raises now rather than later in the year. We are all aware that the company's hand is being forced. An Apple employee based in Texas said that the manager's statement that the unionization had no impact was the most upsetting.
The merit based increases angered employees more than they were satisfied with. Some employees who are already on edge about working conditions felt that the 2– 3% pay raises in many cases were a slap in the face to the dedication they have shown during the Pandemic, an employee at a store that's in the early stages of collecting signatures to bring a union
Many employees are opting for a "Wait and see approach" to whether their concerns will be addressed following the pay raises and more open dialogue from store leadership to discuss workplace conditions, which has slowed the talks within stores. Many employees feel that Apple is doing everything it can to be anti-union despite the fact that Apple leadership made it clear that discussing a union is not a taboo subject.
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