Apple workers at the Grand Central Terminal are moving to form a united union

Workers at Apple’s flagship retail store in New York City’s Grand Central Station have taken steps toward forming a union website Update by the organizers.

why does it matter: If the organizers are successful, it will be the first Apple retail store to join the union, according to Washington PostThat first reported about the move Saturday.

News leadership: The Pacific Organizing Committee (OC) said in a website update that workers in a Manhattan store voted on February 21 to join Workers United, national trade union The site’s feedback has successfully helped Starbucks workers unions across the United States

• The site states that “Apple stores in the US are regulated,” and WashPost reports that workers at “at least three” of the iPhone-maker’s US retail stores are heading to unions.
• “Grand Central is an exceptional store with unique working conditions that make Guild essential to ensuring that our team enjoys the best possible standards of living while fix To be exceptional times,” according to the site.
• Site links to it For a report on Apple Temporarily closing in-store shopping In North American locations including New York City last December due to spikes in COVID-19 and article on inflation Reaching its highest level in 40 years In February to support her point.

what are they saying: Apple has not confirmed whether or not it will support its workers’ union movement, but said in a statement to WashPost that the company is “fortunate to have such amazing retail team members and we deeply appreciate everything they give Apple.”

• “We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits to full-time and part-time employees, including healthcare, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits,” the statement added.

our thought bubble, via Ina Fried AxiosOf all the tech companies, Apple is best known for being the most secretive and imposing strict limits on what Apple workers can say or do, suggesting that a union push would be deemed unwelcome.

• At the same time, the company may be concerned that any harsh anti-union tactics could damage the company’s overall image.

The Big Picture: After avoiding unions for decades, Technology workers are increasingly Interested in ways the labor movement might help give them a stronger voice within their powerful organizations like Amazon and Google, according to Fried.

• The pandemic has had a major impact on workers, who are increasingly joining hands to put pressure on employers and raise public awareness about the health and safety issues they face at work, Notes Joanne Muller in Axios.
• Apple and Workers Unit representatives did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for comment.