{"id":21210,"date":"2022-12-06T04:49:07","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T04:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/06\/apples-anti-union-tactics-in-atlanta-were-illegal-u-s-officials-say\/"},"modified":"2022-12-06T04:49:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T04:49:07","slug":"apples-anti-union-tactics-in-atlanta-were-illegal-u-s-officials-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/06\/apples-anti-union-tactics-in-atlanta-were-illegal-u-s-officials-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple’s anti-union tactics in Atlanta were illegal, U.S. officials say"},"content":{"rendered":"

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U.S. labor board prosecutors have determined that Apple violated federal law by interrogating and coercing employees in Atlanta, the latest legal salvo over the company\u2019s response to organizing efforts.<\/p>\n

The National Labor Relations Board\u2019s Atlanta regional director also concluded that Apple held mandatory anti-union meetings during which management made coercive statements and will issue a complaint if the company doesn\u2019t settle, the agency\u2019s press secretary, Kayla Blado, said Monday.<\/p>\n

Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

The Communications Workers of America petitioned for a unionization election at the Atlanta store this year, but in May withdrew its petition the week before the planned vote, citing alleged misconduct by the company.<\/p>\n

\u201cApple executives think the rules don\u2019t apply to them,\u201d the group said in a statement Monday. \u201cHolding an illegal forced captive audience meeting is not only union-busting, but an example of psychological warfare. We commend the NLRB for recognizing captive audience meetings for exactly what they are: a direct violation of labor rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apple, the world\u2019s most valuable company, has been facing an unprecedented wave of organizing at its retail stores this year. Staff at a Maryland location voted in June to unionize with the International Assn. of Machinists, and their counterparts in Oklahoma City opted in October to join the CWA.<\/p>\n

Organizers suffered a setback last month in St. Louis, where IAM withdrew a unionization petition the week after filing it, blaming the company\u2019s behavior. Some employees at the location later complained about the process, saying they felt<\/a> the election effort was rushed. But workers at dozens more of Apple\u2019s roughly 270 U.S. stores have been discussing unionization, according to employees.<\/p>\n

An NLRB regional director in New York issued a complaint against Apple in September, accusing the company of interrogating staff at a World Trade Center store and discriminating against union supporters in enforcing a no-soliciting policy. Apple said it disagreed with the allegations.<\/p>\n

While the NLRB has previously held that companies can require employees to attend anti-union meetings, the agency\u2019s current general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, views such \u201ccaptive audience\u201d gatherings as inherently coercive and illegal. Her office is pursuing cases that could change the precedent, including at Amazon.com and Starbucks, both of which have denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

Complaints issued by NLRB regional directors are considered by the agency\u2019s judges, whose rulings can be appealed to the board\u2019s members in Washington, and from there can go to federal court. The agency can require remedies, such as posting of notices and reversals of policies or punishments, but it has no authority to impose punitive damages on companies.<\/p>\n

Bloomberg staff writer Mark Gurman contributed to this report<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n