National Labor Relations Board Finds Evidence Apple Illegally Interfered With Union Organizing Effort in Atlanta

(ATLANTA) — The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found merit on an unfair labor practice charge filed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) against Apple for interfering with union organizing efforts at the Atlanta Cumberland Mall retail location by holding captive audience meetings and engaging in other illegal activity. The finding affirms that mandatory meetings to discourage union membership are considered a direct violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which could help set a precedent for future infringements on workers’ rights.

“Apple executives think the rules don’t apply to them. Holding an illegal, forced captive audience meeting is not only union-busting, but an example of psychological warfare,” said Tom Smith, CWA Organizing Director. “We commend the NLRB for recognizing captive audience meetings for exactly what they are: a direct violation of labor rights.”

Earlier this year, NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo issued a memo explaining that, “the Act protects employee’s right to listen as well as their right to refrain from listening to employer speech concerning the exercise of their [right to join a union].” A month later, Apple retail employees in Atlanta accused the company of violating the National Labor Relations Act by requiring workers to listen to anti-union propaganda during mandatory “daily download” meetings to counter the union drive. In the end, CWA withdrew its request for a union election at the Atlanta location because Apple's repeated violations made a fair and democratic election impossible.

Despite Apple’s nationwide union-busting campaign, retail workers in Oklahoma City fought hard to ensure their rights were respected at work and became the second group at Apple to win union representation in the U.S. Apple Retail Union/CWA is currently waiting to hear from the NLRB on several unresolved unfair labor practice charges, including the interrogation of workers and threat to withhold benefits from the Penn Square Apple workers.

If Apple does not enter into a proposed settlement of the charges, the NLRB will issue a formal complaint and schedule the case for hearing before an NLRB Administrative Law Judge.

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The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is an initiative by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) supporting workers’ organizing efforts in the technology and game industries.