NYC Apple retail workers want a $30 minimum wage

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The union trying to organize Apple's Grand Central Terminal store plans to push for a minimum wage of $30 an hour if it succeeds, CNBC reported. The wage increase, health and safety research, and better education and retirement benefits are some of the goals of the union.

A full-time employee with a minimum wage of $30 would make about 62,000 a year. The union wants pay calculated using amatrix based on role, tenure, and performance.

Fruit Stand Workers United wants to negotiate for increases in vacation time accrual, 401(k) matching rates, and tuition reimbursement as well as more options for retirement, such as pension plans. The union wants Apple to conduct research into security protocols with customer interactions, track dust, health effects from building materials, and noise pollution at Grand Central.

In major cities like New York, there is concern about pollutants from vehicles. While noise pollution is an issue for almost all New York residents, it appears to be a particular concern for employees of a store located in one of the city's busiest rail terminals.

Apple has made many changes to its store operations throughout the course of the Pandemic, both opening and closing its retail locations andstating, removing, and reinstating mask mandates for customers. Apple temporarily closed a store in Texas after three workers tested positive for drugs.

Last week, Fruit Stand Workers United announced that it started having employees sign cards to say they are interested in joining a union. Fruit Stand Workers United can petition the National Labor Relations Board to hold an election if more than 30 percent of workers sign up.

There has been a surge in organizing efforts at both tech and retail companies. Amazon warehouse workers in New York voted to unionize earlier this month, and employees at several Starbucks locations have also voted for worker representation. Fruit Stand Workers United is affiliated with the union that is behind Starbucks.

In the past few weeks, employees at two retail locations have voted to unionize. The minimum wage for retail and customer service workers will be raised to $20 with the caveat that it is the sum of their salary and target commission.