NLRB judge finds Apple violated labor law by illegally interrogating staff about union activity

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge found that Apple “coercively interrogated” retail employees in New York about their legally protected labor activism and illegally confiscated pro-union flyers in its break rooms. The case is based on unfair labor practice charges CWA filed about Apple management’s actions at the World Trade Center store.

The New York ruling follows a recent NLRB complaint against Apple for the corporation's flagrant disregard of labor law in its Oklahoma City store, where workers successfully formed a union with CWA despite the company's illegal interference. The workers are currently bargaining with Apple on their first union contract.

Despite Apple’s public commitments to develop and retain top talent, the corporation has chosen to attack its own employees for simply seeking to exercise their legally protected right to organize. The NLRB’s complaint made clear that Apple’s behavior puts the company among the worst and most aggressive union-busters in the country, in step with Amazon and Starbucks. The NLRB found merit in several charges including interrogation of employees about their support for the union, holding mandatory captive audience meetings, and threatening employees with retaliation if they won their union election, and will prosecute Apple for breaking federal labor law.

Links:

NLRB issues complaint—Apple joining ranks of fellow notorious union-busters Starbucks & Amazon (CODE CWA, June 2, 2023)

Apple Illegally Interrogated Staff About Union, Judge Rules (Bloomberg, June 20, 2023)