Unionization Permeates As Apple Employees Begin Collecting Signatures

Workers at Apple’s New York flagship store are seeking to unionize, and if successful, would be the first Apple store to do so. 

Staff told the Washington Post that they are collecting signatures as a result of their wages not keeping up with the pace of inflation. 

“Card signing has begun!” said the organizers at Grand Central Terminal, known as Fruit Stand Workers United. 

Organizers voted by a majority on February 21 to affiliate with labor union Workers United, which also supported the unionization of Starbucks locations. 

At the moment, at least three other Apple retail stores are seeking to form a union as well. 

In order to unionize, 30% of workers at Grand Central would need to sign cards, which would then be passed to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), who then vote on it.   

Despite Apple recently expanding both full-time and part-time employee benefits, such as more sick days, vacation time, and childcare support, workers said they could not hold managers accountable “for alleged unfair or abusive practices.” 

Apple’s net sales were up 33% in the last fiscal year compared to 2020, with CEO Tim Cook raking in $98.73 million in compensation. According to Glassdoor, the average pay for an Apple retail worker was $20 per hour.