Federal Labor Board Rules Apple’s Secrecy Restricts Workers’ Rights

Apple employees have been fighting back against the company’s restrictive work policies for years, but their efforts may have finally paid off.   

The National Labor Relations Board has determined that Apple’s rules limiting employee communication and collective bargaining interfere with workers’ rights, and if the parties can’t resolve the issue, a formal complaint will be filed against Apple.    

Apple is accused of trying to prevent employees from collecting wage data, as well as sending emails warning against disclosures of confidential information. The labor board found merit to a charge alleging statements and conduct by Apple, including high-level executives, violated the National Labor Relations Act. 

This could lead to major changes for the iPhone maker, as the labor board is known for enforcing workers’ rights in cases like this. 

Apple was also accused of retaliating against employees who spoke out against sexual harassment and abuse previously, leading the labor board to file charges against the company.    

Activists part of the #AppleToo initiative expressed their concerns that the company’s culture of strict secrecy prevented employees from bringing up any issues with each other, their families or the media. They allege this enabled some bad managers to make questionable decisions without accountability.