Apple Inc
After a successful February vote, Fruit Stand Workers United, the organizing committee behind the push, aligned itself with Canadian/American labor union Workers United. The union has notably supported efforts by employees to unionize at Starbucks
Workers at the Grand Central Station Apple Store are entering the card signing stage of their unionization efforts. FSWU requires signatures from at least 30% of eligible employees, of whom there are roughly 270 at the location. If successful, the FSWU would require a majority to vote in favor of unionization. The organizers have stated that they intend to bring Apple to the bargaining table to secure better compensation and benefits, a high-demand commodity among employees in the post-pandemic retail sector.
"When Apple's goal is to make more money every year than they did the last, and their clientele has grown as much as it can, they have no choice but to extract more and more labor from their workforce, all while spending as little money as possible on that workforce." The organizers wrote on their website. "As Apple continues this process, the [sic] must extend us a seat at the table. We cannot live at the whims of Apple's generosity. We can't bet our futures on luck. If Apple's goal is 'To leave the world better than we found it', then they need to hold themselves to a higher standard."
Organizers are asking for a minimum $30 an hour wage for all workers that is "built up on a matrix based on role, tenure, and performance." The FSWU is also seeking better benefits such as higher match rates for 401(k) contributions and faster vacation time accruement.
The efforts by Apple Store workers follow a busy year by organized labor, with 2021 seeing a spike in union activity, from strikes to unionization votes. Aside from Starbucks, 2022 has continued to see increased activity from organized labor, such as a strike by California grocery workers earlier this year that secured higher wages for workers at stores owned by Albertsons Companies
On Monday, Apple shares remained primarily flat, with shares down a slight 0.31% by market close. Given that Grand Central unionization efforts have been underway for over a month, it's hard to say if the flat line is due to investor anxiety.
