Apple Store in Glasgow Makes History as First UK Store to Unionize

Apple's retail store in Glasgow, Scotland, has become the first UK store to officially vote in favor of forming a union.

apple glasgow
Staff at the Glasgow store had been eyeing unionization for some time and comes amid continued concerns for some employees over pay and working conditions. Staff at the Glasgow store are now set to use their unionization to push for higher hourly pay.

In response to the vote, Apple told The Herald it is "one of the highest paying retailers in Scotland" and it "regularly made enhancements to our industry-leading benefits as a part of the overall support we provide to our valued team members."

Apple has been attempting to ease concerns from retail staff over the last several months, encouraging store managers to be more open and direct with staff over their concerns and promising action to address them.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Top Rated Comments

BootsWalking Avatar
40 months ago

How much is enough? Should a sales grunt make a million a year?
A million? Nah. Enough to actually feed and house yourself? Yes.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Marbles1 Avatar
40 months ago
Glad to hear. Always good for lower paid workers doing mass market jobs like retail to keep their employers on their toes.

Apple make insane profits. They can afford to pay their staff more.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
40 months ago

In response to the vote, Apple told The Herald ('https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/23094915.scottish-apple-store-staff-become-first-uk-unionise/') it is "one of the highest paying retailers in Scotland" and it "regularly made enhancements to our industry-leading benefits as a part of the overall support we provide to our valued team members."
Wrong answer Apple. The right thing to say at this moment is "we respect their decision and we will begin negotiations for a labor contract."
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Freida Avatar
40 months ago
Have you ever worked in retail especially in UK? You live from paycheck to paycheck and you pray that you don't have any emergency expenses (like broken something).
You also usually have to do flat share as UK is very expensive so until people have living wage then there is always need to have higher salaries especially when the company is so rich. These people work hard and should have reasonable balance.


How much is enough? Should a sales grunt make a million a year?
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
40 months ago
Apple has to stop hiding behind these hollow ethos about making the world a better place. Its just a veneer on a culture that I suspect internally is very toxic. The cracks show when you have that procurement executive who made that silly comment and got canned. If it wasn't caught on video, you think Apple would have fired him? Apple at the end of the day is a big old stinking business and its in service to its shareholders, first and foremost. Don't forget that. Its just that they happen to make really great products.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ILoveCalvinCool Avatar
40 months ago
Great news. Hope it spreads company-wide.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)