The workers of a Apple Store in Oklahoma The city voted to unionize, marking the second union member Apple store in the United States within months, according to the Federal Labor Commission.
The vote marked another victory for the labor movement, which has been gaining momentum since the pandemic.
Fifty-six workers at the store, located at Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City, voted to be represented by the Communications Workers of Americawhile 32 voted against, according to a preliminary count of National Labor Relations Commission. The approximate number of eligible voters was 95, the council said.
The Labor Board said both sides had five working days to file objections to the election. If no objection is filed, the results will be certified and the employer must begin bargaining in good faith with the union.
The union victory follows a vote to unionize an Apple store in Towson, Maryland, in June. This effort has been led by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers of Maryland, which is preparing to begin formal negotiations.
In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, Apple said, “We believe the open, direct, and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to deliver a great experience to our customers and our teams.”
Apple also cited “strong compensation and exceptional benefits” and noted that since 2018, it has increased its departure rates in the United States by 45% and made significant improvements to other benefits, including new programs. educational and family support.
Communications Workers of America could not immediately be reached for comment.
Labor discontent has reinvigorated labor movements at several major companies in the United States in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sparked tensions over sick leave policies, hours and other issues.
In a surprise victory, Amazon the workers of a Staten Island the warehouse voted to unionize in April, although similar efforts at other warehouses have so far been unsuccessful. Voting for an Amazon facility near Albany, New York, began Wednesday and is expected to end Monday. More than 200 Starbucks stores in the United States have voted to unionize in the past year, according to the NLRB.
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