Downtown Apple Towson
The conflict between Apple and members of the Reston retail union is on full display in a new video highlighting the difficulties negotiations, disparities in discipline and much more.
The video was posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday and is a seven-minute look at contract negotiations between Apple and IAM CORE members.
“We go there, we make proposals and we get the answer: 'Well, here's our counter' after three hours of negotiations, and this is a screenshot of the web page where you know what our current policy is,” says in the video, Eric Brown, Apple Store employee and IAM CORE member
EXCLUSIVE: We got an inside look at the negotiations contract at the first Apple store to join a union.
In the photo, this is anathema to a company that claims that “the soul is our people.”
Apple stalled for two years as it cracked down on unionized workers, forcing about 50 people to quit. pic.twitter.com/JQWnOhRnMf
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) May 31, 2024
The union says Apple is dragging its feet on negotiations. The first such statement was made more than a year ago, in April 2023.
In the video, union members say they are pushing for fair wages to keep up with inflation and the cost of living. One participant notes that Apple's steady profit growth means the tech giant can easily afford to raise workers' wages.
However, Apple allegedly retaliated against union members, forcing about 50 people to resign within two years of the union's formation.
“We see six to eight discipline-related conversations a day,” says Billy Jarboe, an Apple Store worker and union member.
Union member and employee Chaya Barrett notes that Apple's policies disproportionately negatively impact employees who may have children or work two jobs. Apple requires retail employees to have four hours of time to interact with customers, but when the Towson Town Center moved its closing time from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m., many workers were unable to meet this requirement.
The union also notes that Apple has since implemented the changes requested by the union — anywhere except the union store. He believes that this step is retaliatory.
Although this practice is illegal, its consequences are not severe enough to force Apple to comply with the law.
Negotiations with the union continue to move forward. On May 8, IAM CORE members proposed a strike if significant progress was not made. On May 12, store workers voted to go on strike.
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