Several articles about Apple Store workers’ intentions to form a union have appeared in the media recently.
Unionization intentions have yet to be publicly stated by Apple, but it is already working with anti-union attorneys to oppose them.
Union negotiations have been held on a number of occasions recently.
Apple Location workers at the Grand Central Store in New York City have begun the process of unionizing.
These workers want to improve their working conditions, get more vacation time, better retirement, and get a minimum wage of $30 an hour.
Days later, word surfaced that workers at an Apple Store in Atlanta would be the first in the US to file for a union election. Similar incentives are requested by workers at the New York City location.
Starbucks is also represented by Littler Mendelson.
The Verge says that Apple is working with the San Francisco-based Littler Mendelson legal firm to de-escalate the union disputes.
One of the lawyers supporting Starbucks in its fight against unionization is Littler Mendelson. When McDonald’s employees demanded $15 an hour in pay in 2014, the corporation stepped in to assist.
By retaining the notorious union busting firm Littler Mendelson, Apple’s management is showing that they intend to try to prevent their employees from exercising their right to join a union by running the same playbook as other large corporations,” said CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens. “The workers at Starbucks, another Littler client, aren’t falling for it and neither will the workers at Apple.
According to an unidentified New York City Apple Store employee, the business has been promoting anti-union messages in meetings.
The employee said that “a lot of disinformation has been published in an attempt to terrify the populace.” It’s possible that they’re afraid.