Videos shared on social media confirmed jubilant scenes of workers cheering on the store. In a mission assertion forward of the vote, the Oklahoma staffers mentioned they have been combating for higher pay, profession growth and improved heath and well-being situations in their work surroundings.
“It is our belief that great value is added to a company when its people are truly represented,” they said on their web site. They added they have been combating “for the soul of Apple” and to “shine the spotlight back onto the company.”
The subsequent step is for the U.S. National Labor Relations Board to formally certify the vote earlier than contract negotiations can start between one of many world’s most dear firms and the brand new union.
A spokesperson for Apple mentioned in a press release to The Washington Post on Saturday, “We believe the open, direct and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to provide an excellent experience for our customers, and for our teams.
“We’re proud to provide our team members with strong compensation and exceptional benefits. Since 2018, we’ve increased our starting rates in the US by 45% and we’ve made many significant enhancements to our industry-leading benefits, including new educational and family support programs.”
After the turbulence of the coronavirus pandemic and the continuing inflation and value of dwelling disaster, workers are more and more rallying collectively to demand higher wages, advantages and extra job safety.
In New York, the primary Amazon warehouse voted to type a union in the spring, whereas dozens of Starbucks shops throughout the nation have additionally unionized this 12 months. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
“Let me congratulate the Apple Store workers in Oklahoma City for voting to become the 2nd unionized Apple Store in the US,” tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday. “Last year, Apple made a record $95 billion profit. Its billionaire CEO made $99 million in 2021. It’s time for Apple to treat its workers with respect.”
In June, Apple workers in the Baltimore space grew to become the primary of the tech big’s U.S. retail shops to unionize in the United States. Workers on the Towson, Md., store voted to be part of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) 65 to 33.
At the time, President Biden, who describes himself as pro-union, mentioned he was pleased with the Apple workers in Towson. “Workers have a right to determine under what condition they are going to work or not,” he mentioned.
Apple store workers in Maryland, Atlanta and different areas try to launch union drives, however the strikes nonetheless solely symbolize a trickle, as the worldwide tech big boasts greater than 270 retail areas in the United States, in accordance to its website.