A shopper looks at a wall entirely covered in iPhone cases at American multinational technology company Apple’s Apple Store in Hong Kong. China’s consumer prices rose more slowly than expected in August amid heatwaves and Covid-19 flare-ups, while producer inflation fell to its lowest level since February 2021, official data showed.
Budrul Chukrut | Light Rocket | Getty Images
Workers at an Apple store in Oklahoma City voted to join a union on Friday, marking the second unionized Apple store in the United States
The vote is a defeat for Apple, which has spoken out against union organizing efforts nationwide. It’s a win for the Communications Workers of America, who are now representing workers at an Apple store after separate union efforts stalled at stores in Georgia and New York City.
The balance was 56 yes votes and 32 no votes. Approximately 94 employees were eligible to join CWA. The vote took place earlier this week.
“The retail workers of Penn Square Apple are an amazing addition to our growing labor movement, and we are excited to welcome them as CWA members,” said Sara Steffens, secretary and treasurer of the CWA, in a statement.
“We believe the open, direct, and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to deliver a great experience for our customers and our teams,” Apple said in a statement, adding that it has been since 2018 has improved its starting wages in the US by 45%.
The National Labor Relations Board will confirm the votes next week. After that, Apple has to negotiate with the union about working conditions.
Apple has spoken out against the union, according to a CWA filing earlier this month, which alleges Apple management has held anti-union meetings and threatened to withhold benefits from unionized stores.
Apple’s first unionized US business, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Maryland, is preparing to begin formal negotiations with Apple. According to Bloomberg News, Apple told employees there that it would not receive some perks, such as prepayment of tuition or access to online courses, because it would have to be negotiated with the union.
Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world, posting global revenue of over $365 billion in 2021. It has about 270 stores across the US