The organizers of the Apple store in Maryland claim that the company isn't telling the whole truth when it comes to withholding benefits. The first retail location in the US to unionize is making it difficult for workers to bargain for their benefits.
In a letter addressed to Tim Cook, the negotiating committee said they were disappointed that the company wouldn't be giving workers at the location some new health and education benefits. Apple has been spreading misinformation by saying that workers would have to bargain for their benefits, according to the union.
The union has not been given any information about the new benefits.
The letter states that the process of change within a unionized store and the fact that we can will be included in the collective bargaining contract proposal. The union claims that Apple makes it difficult to bargain for those benefits by not sharing any details about them.
Apple didn't comment on the union's accusations
In June of this year, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees voted to form a union. The Communications Workers of America has filed complaints about Apple in New York and Oklahoma.
The reports about Apple withholding benefits came out days before the Oklahoma store was scheduled to hold its union election. Workers at Penn Square store in Oklahoma City voted to unionize.
There are still ongoing union drives at Apple stores in New York and Atlanta that could affect the outcome of the election. Apple made it impossible to hold a fair election, which is why the union canceled the vote.
Some details about what workers might be missing out on, including a free Coursera subscription, were provided by Bloomberg earlier this month. A Harvard Law School professor said that there was nothing stopping the company from giving those benefits to their employees.
The company's move to block benefits could be a violation of labor law according to the chairperson for the National Labor Relations Board. Employers are not allowed to refuse to give information to the union that is relevant to the bargaining process according to the National Labor Relations Board.
The workers in Maryland hope the letter will lead to a discussion with their leaders. The president of theIAM promised in a press release that he would "sit down with CEO Cook whenever" to support the union's members.
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