Employees at an Apple retail store in Short Hills, New Jersey, have cast their vote against joining a union, dealing a blow to efforts to organize Apple’s workforce across the country.
The vote, which concluded on Saturday, saw employees reject the proposal to join the Communication Workers of America (CWA) union by a margin of 57 to 41, according to the National Labor Relations Board, Reuters news report said.
This marks the first union election at an Apple store since 2022, when workers at stores in Maryland and Oklahoma successfully voted to unionize. However, since then, the momentum has faltered, with the CWA withdrawing petitions for elections at several other stores amidst accusations of Apple’s anti-union tactics.
Apple, known for its sleek technology and innovative products, has faced allegations of discouraging unionization efforts. Despite repeated calls for comment, the tech giant remained silent on the matter. However, in a statement issued last month in response to the petition for the Short Hills store election, Apple emphasized its commitment to providing competitive pay and benefits to its retail employees.
The average Apple salary at retail stores in the United States ranges from approximately $30,000 per year for Cashier to $141,000 per year for Front End Associate, according to media reports.
The Communication Workers of America, the union seeking to represent Apple employees, has yet to issue a statement in response to the election results. However, they have a five-day window to file objections to the outcome, potentially citing concerns about alleged illegal labor practices by Apple leading up to the vote.
In a recent development, the CWA filed a complaint with the NLRB, accusing Apple of retaliating against a key figure in the Short Hills campaign. The complaint alleges that the individual was subjected to managerial meetings and denied time off in response to their involvement in the union drive.
This incident follows a separate ruling by the labor board, which found that a manager at an Apple store in Manhattan violated a worker’s rights by inquiring about their support for a union campaign. Apple has denied any wrongdoing in these cases, although numerous complaints from the union remain pending before the board.
