Apple Retail Store managers are participating in "union awareness" training after a part-time San Francisco retail store employee attempted to start a union of Apple Store employees, according to CNET.

newfifthave

This course is intended to provide managers with a practical understanding of how unions affect the workplace, how and why employees organize, and the legal do's and don'ts of dealing with unions. This is a mandatory class for all new managers, and is required biannually for all managers."

Apple's retail employees partake a wide variety of training, on products, services, and best practices, via an exclusive iPad app called RetailMe.

This training is presumably in an effort to avoid entanglements surrounding what corporations can and cannot legally do to discourage the formation of unions.

Top Rated Comments

JDB1983 Avatar
173 months ago


It's "dos" not "do's."

This is a mac forum. Unfortunatly nothing is 'dos'.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dcr2k Avatar
173 months ago
ignorance

Here in the US, they are blood sucking bullies that raise the cost of doing business. Good luck trying to fire incompetent workers.

You have health benefits at your job? You have personal days or sick days? Protection on getting fired if as a female you become pregnant or bedridden while pregnant? Vacation time? All of those things do not exist without unions. Know your history, get educated before you spout off.

Just because a good thing can be abused does not void its existence.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LastLine Avatar
173 months ago
Why would Apple be scared of a Union? They surely give good service to their employees? I mean if your one of the chosen few you get over a million shares! Nothing like share the wealth eh!

I seem to be confused by unionizing in the states - it seems to be very negatively viewed over there, whereas in the UK it's generally viewed as a must have in certain work sectors.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kid A Avatar
173 months ago
I have all of those benefits without a union at my job. Unions are not required for benefits and treating employees right. Know what you are talking about before you spout off.

I have those things too, without a union at my job. But, knowing basic history, I am aware that, without unions, workers would have never had those things. Rights and benefits won by unions in the past are now seen as requirements in some industries/professions. The poster you are trying to one-up (epic fail, btw) was speaking historically, and I'm SURE is well aware that many people have benefits despite not being unionized.

Know what you are talking about before you spout off. :rolleyes:
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vertgo Avatar
173 months ago
You have health benefits at your job? You have personal days or sick days? Protection on getting fired if as a female you become pregnant or bedridden while pregnant? Vacation time? All of those things do not exist without unions. Know your history, get educated before you spout off.

Just because a good thing can be abused does not void its existence.

You're a black person who's not a slave in America? Thank the Republicans. Just because something was once good for you does not mean it will always be good.

Unions were once needed to prevent worker abuse, but now they prevent you from getting rid of bad teachers and bad employees, and underprivileged kids and the consumer are paying for it. They force a company to take the good with the bad, so it no longer pays to work hard.

Don't like the customer service you get at other companies? Check if they have an union. If Apple wants to maintain good customer service, they have to be able to get rid of bad employees.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JackHobbs Avatar
173 months ago
Unions are a way of an individual having more power. It's a basic contract. You swap individual choice for the power of the union and collective choice. In the UK some jobs tend to be very unionised. For instance I am a teacher and most teachers tend to be in a union. My union as well as negotiating on pay and conditions also employ lawyers to protect members against legal claims by employers and students. They also arbitrate in complex situations where the relationship between employer and employee has broken down or become strained.

Businesses are in the game to make money. If they can get away with something, then they will. Some businesses think it is a good model to get as much work out of people as possible. Other businesses take a longer term view and may treat their employees better. It's good if good will is the modus operandi but when your employer or it's managers are bullies, it is good to have a strong union on your side.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

oppo find n5 fingers

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches Next Week

Monday February 10, 2025 3:05 am PST by
Oppo has confirmed a February 20 global launch for its Find N5, which the company claims is the world's thinnest device in the foldable phone category. The phone is expected to be re-branded as the OnePlus Open 2 in the US. The Chinese vendor has been teasing the device in the last few weeks, touting its waterproofing and nearly invisible display crease, and highlighting its thinness by compa...
2007 iPhone

Apple Discontinuing This 18-Year-Old iPhone Feature

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:51 pm PST by
The end of an 18-year era is on the horizon for the iPhone. Apple reportedly plans to announce a new iPhone SE as soon as next week, and the device is expected to feature a full-screen design with Face ID, instead of a Touch ID home button. That means Apple will no longer sell any new iPhone models with a home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched. The home button...
m2 macbook air blue

M4 MacBook Air Release Continues to Appear Imminent

Monday February 10, 2025 10:56 am PST by
There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A private account on X today shared the identifiers that the MacBook Air will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip. According to the source, both the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with Apple's...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released watchOS 11.3.1, a minor update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.3.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.3.1 can be downloaded by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to...
sequoia

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:11 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that came out last September. macOS 15.3.1 comes a few weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS 13.7.4 and macOS 14.7.4 for those who are...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
Powerbeats Pro 2 Orange

Powerbeats Pro 2 Given to Customer Early, Expected to Debut Tomorrow

Monday February 10, 2025 7:42 am PST by
Apple's long-awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally expected to be announced this Tuesday. Ahead of time, one lucky Walmart customer was able to get their hands on the earbuds early, according to a since-deleted Reddit post over the weekend. A leaked image of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in Electric Orange "My local Walmart had them in the cage," the Reddit user explained. "I asked if I can buy them...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3.1 With Bug Fixes

Monday February 10, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, minor updates for the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.3.1 comes two weeks after Apple released iOS 18.3. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 for those still running...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple

Apple Increases Mac Trade-In Values for a Limited Time

Sunday February 9, 2025 3:53 pm PST by
Apple today increased its estimated trade-in values for select Mac models in the United States, with the full changes outlined below. Apple says the extra trade-in credit for select Macs is available with the purchase of an eligible new Apple device through April 2. The trade-in values increased by between $10 and $50. Model New Value Old Value MacBook Pro Up to $925 ...