Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s vice president of people and retail, tried to dissuade the company’s employees from joining a union in an internal video leaked to multiple media outlets. In the video, which was broadcast to all of Apple’s 65,000 US retail workers, O’Brien tells workers that a union would slow the company’s efforts to address workers’ concerns.
“We have a relationship based on open, collaborative and direct engagement, which I think could change radically when a business is represented by a union under a collective agreement. Putting another organization at the center of our relationship that doesn’t have a deep understanding of Apple or our business. And one that I don’t think shares our commitment to you,” she said in the video.
After months of worker-led protests against low wages and long hours, including union campaigns at retail stores in Towson, Maryland, Atlanta and New York City, union organizing efforts are underway at a number of Apple’s US retail stores. A number of retail workers recently accused the company of being anti-union. Earlier this month, the Communication Workers of America — the union that seeks to represent workers at the Atlanta location — filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the NLRB, accusing the company of holding mandatory “captive audience” meetings with bargaining unit employees .
O’Brien stressed that a union would block Apple’s efforts to respond quickly to workers’ concerns. “Apple is moving incredibly fast,” she said in the video. “That’s one thing I love about our work in retail. This means that we must also be able to act quickly. And I’m concerned that it may become more difficult for us to act quickly to address the issues you raise as the union will bring in its own statutory rules that govern how we resolve issues.
The tech giant announced in February that it would expand its benefits for US retail workers, including offering paid parental leave and more sick days. It also increased wages for a number of retail workers. But critics say the company made the moves amid a tight job market, after years of media coverage and complaints from Apple’s retail workers about the low pay and demanding work environment.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team independently from our parent company. Some of our stories contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may receive an affiliate commission.