Will Apple see a wave of unionization like Starbucks?

Recent surges in US labor organizationsare, among other things, unions at two well-known companies,AmazonandStarbucks. We are shining a spotlight on the campaign. 8}

But last month the diversion ridgeunion victory at the Apple Store in Towson, Maryland was exhibited at the large corporate burden and Starbucks of aAmazon-like company. A national wave of union victories is escalating a multi-month surge in worker organization, despite the economy approaching a potential recession, labor scholars and organizers said ABC. I told the news.

There is little guarantee of a series of union wins at Apple stores across the United States, and more because each Apple store employs far more workers than regular Starbucks shops. It can be difficult and time consuming-it takes time to organize each location, experts said. They also warned that Apple has a wide range of freedoms against unionization that could hinder union efforts.

Maryland's unified Apple Storeworkers "showed potential" and are the organizers of the International Mechanics Aerospace Workers Association (IAMAW), which led the labor campaign at the store. David Di Maria says. "These workers have influenced many other Apple workers across the country."

Since last month's victory, IAMAW has been "in all kinds of markets across the country" with numerous Apples. I've been interested in integration from store employees. By workers. The company has more than 270 stores in the United States.

Maryland store workers have organized concerns about wages, professional development, scheduling, and Covid risk. The latter has been worried about workers since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

The successful union campaign in Maryland, which began about a year ago, was in line with similar efforts at other Apple stores. Workers at one of New York City's Grand Central Terminal have embarked on an ongoing union movement. Meanwhile, at thestorein Atlanta, the Communications Workers of America withdrew its union vote request in May before the event because of Apple's anti-union efforts and the logistical challenges raised by Covid. .. ..

In May, Apple raised the starting salary of retail employees from $ 20 to $ 22 per hour amid union activity, high inflation, and tight labor markets.

Apple declined to request comments on this article. CWA did not respond to the request for comment.

The surge in organization at Apple is happening in the overall rise in union activity across the country. Petitions for union elections increased 57% in the first six months of fiscal year 2022, which ended March 31, compared to the same six months of the previous year, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRB). Is in April.

Over the last few months, national attention has focused on union campaigns at Amazon and Starbucks.

In In April, warehouse workers at an Amazon facility with 6,000 workersformed the company's first US union, but no additional warehouses have joined the union since then. While at Starbucks, the first union victory at the Buffalo store in December caused a wave of union elections, with a total of 225 elections, of which the union won 182, or 81%, NLRB said ABC. I told the news.

"Starbucks shows that victory produces victory," said Alex Riccio, Philadelphia-based organizer of the Union of Workers' Unions working on the Starbucks labor campaign. Told. "If people find out that there is a way to victory and a way to power, it has a vibrant effect."

However, experts say that each shop is more than a regular Starbucks. The wave of victory at the Apple Store can be more difficult and time consuming, as it also employs many workers. 98 workers voted in a union election at the Apple Store in Maryland. In contrast to Starbucks trade union votes, the numbers vary, but typically involve about 30 employees.

“The larger the workplace, the greater the uncertainty about the organizational environment,” said Michael Duff, a professor of law at St. Louis University and a former NLRB lawyer. “When trying to organize larger locations, it takes time to determine if there is support. According to experts, Apple's anti-union campaign can also limit or delay organization in the Apple store. But employer opposition could boost the expansion of labor campaigns.

Apple hasn't taken a public position on recent union efforts, but the company is with members. We hired a lawyer from Littler Mendelson, a law firm held by Starbucks to fight. Workers at an Atlanta store complained to NLRB about a compulsory anti-union meeting allegation,sub-reportreported that the company sent points for anti-union discussions to multiple store managers for sharing with employees.

Meanwhile, a store manager in Tawson, Maryland, paid a membership fee. Dimaria, the chief organizer of IAMAW, quoted a conversation with workers, saying she misunderstood how the negotiation process worked by giving workers false information about their payments.

"Employers have a lot of room to carry out anti-union campaigns," said Lisa Lieberwitz, a professor of employment law at the Faculty of Labor Relations at Cornell University. "It can make it more difficult."

Di Maria expressed cautious optimism when asked if she would further integrate the Apple store.

"If you can call it, I'll win the lottery," he said. "I know the general public wants to see these tsunamis, but it's the workers who are experiencing this and they have to build it themselves to sustain it.