Apple Store Employees in St. Louis Reject Unionization Efforts

Apple Store employees at the St. Louis Galleria location this week decided not to unionize, rejecting unionization in a filing with the National Labor Relations Board, reports Bloomberg.

apple store st louis
Employees said that they did not believe the union would provide "anything complementary to Apple's culture and existing benefits," which suggests that Apple's efforts to improve benefits to stymie unionization have been successful. Apple in February increased paid sick days and vacation days, and in June, improved working conditions by increasing time limits between shifts, limiting late night shifts, and not scheduling employees to work for more than five days in a row.

Workers at the store said they do not want to be represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the labor group that was aiming to organize the store. 66 of 90 employees said they "do not want to join the union and do not support the union in any manner."

IAM in November dropped plans for a vote for unionization, blaming "anti-union practices and increased hostility towards workers" at the time. Employees claim that IAM dropped unionization efforts after learning about the petition. "The majority of employees at this ‌Apple Store‌ do not wish to work with the IAM," said the employees. They also said that they "do not believe that a union is required at this time."

Workers said that union opposition was not influenced by management, even though Apple has been accused of engaging in anti-union behavior. Apple in October refused to provide new benefits to a unionized store in Maryland, and employees there were told that they would need to negotiate benefits with Apple through the union.

Apple's head of retail Deirdre O'Brien has warned employees that unionization would make it harder for Apple to introduce changes. "We have a relationship that is based on an open and collaborative and direct engagement," she said at the time. "Which I feel could fundamentally change if a store is represented by a union under a collective bargaining agreement."

As of now, two U.S. Apple Stores have opted to unionize, and employees at several other Apple retail locations are considering unionization.

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Top Rated Comments

BenGoren Avatar
36 months ago
It’s sad how completely we’ve forgotten the lessons of the past.

Do you at least like the memory of the idea of a 40-hour work week?

Or, how much do you appreciate the fact that it’s illegal for your workplace to have doors locked such that those inside cannot leave?

Without unions, we wouldn’t even have that much.

“Divide and conquer.” “United we stand; divided we fall.”

A trivial analysis will show that “right-to-work” states get paid less, work longer hours, have less job stability …

… and all y’all think this is a good thing?

b&
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Marbles1 Avatar
36 months ago
European here. Attitudes toward unions is definitely one of the major divides between the USA and Europe. We have a lot of sympathy for unions here, they stand up for the little guy in commoditised jobs.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zantafio Avatar
36 months ago

Unions just need to die…end of discussion
you know why in Europe they get 5 weeks or more paid vacations and zilch here? UNIONS
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WiiDSmoker Avatar
36 months ago
If Apple cares about their employees, it shouldn’t have taken unionization for them to offer more pay and sick leave.

Good employers never let negativity arise by being ahead and providing well for their employees.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macusercom Avatar
36 months ago

you know why in Europe they get 5 weeks or more paid vacations and zilch here? UNIONS
Not to forget paid sick days (a month when starting a new job up to multiple months at 100% salary), maternity protection, special vaccation days for marriage, death or moving to a new appartment, obligatory breaks and idle periods after a certain number of working days/hours and a lot more
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gugy Avatar
36 months ago

Unions just need to die…end of discussion
Well, so you rather corporations dictate whatever they want? While sometimes unions can be detrimental, they are one of the very few options workers have to have their rights and dignity held against powerful interests.
Greed is the engine of the American, Inc empire and it's not surprising the middle and lowers classes are being squeezed at a rapid pace since the 80s.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)