US labor board accuses Apple of imposing unlawful workplace regulations
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in the US has filed a formal complaint against tech giant Apple, claiming that the company has violated employees' rights to unionize and push for better working conditions. The complaint accuses Apple of enforcing a bunch of unlawful workplace rules across its operations nationwide. These rules include compulsory signing of illegal confidentiality, non-disclosure, and non-compete agreements, as well as implementing broad misconduct and social media policies.
Apple accused of infringing employees' rights under federal labor law
The NLRB's complaint also claims that Apple has been "interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of" their rights under federal labor law. In response to these allegations, an Apple spokesperson stated that the firm has always respected its employees' rights to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions. This respect is reflected in its employment policies. The tech giant strongly disagrees with these claims and plans to present its case at a hearing.
NLRB seeks to enforce changes in workplace rules
If Apple fights this case, it'll head to an administrative judge in January. The NLRB is pushing to make Apple scrap the supposedly illegal rules, and let its entire US workforce know about their legal rights. This complaint stems from charges filed against Apple last year by Ashley Gjovik, a former senior engineering manager. Gjovik alleged that many of Apple's rules discourage workers from chatting about topics like pay equity and sex discrimination, with each other and the media.
Gjovik's lawsuit partially dismissed
Along with her charges with the NLRB, Gjovik also filed a lawsuit in California federal court in May. She accused the company of illegally retaliating against her for filing the NLRB complaints, and attempting to organize other workers, a claim that Apple has denied. Yesterday, a judge dismissed most of Gjovik's lawsuit but allowed her an opportunity to revise some of her allegations.
Apple faces additional NLRB cases related to employee rights
Apple is also facing at least two other pending NLRB cases. One claims that it fired a worker at its Cupertino, California, headquarters for criticizing managers. The other claims illegal interference with a union campaign at a retail store in Atlanta. In both instances, Apple has denied any wrongdoing. This May, the NLRB ruled that a manager of an Apple store in Manhattan had unlawfully questioned an employee about his support for a union.
