Apple worker tries to start union
Source: Agencies |
June 14, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN Apple Inc store employee in the United States has started a drive to unionize retail workers in a rare move at a company known for its near-fanatical following and cutting-edge mystique.
Cory Moll, a part-time employee at an Apple Store in San Francisco, is working to form a union to fight for better wages and benefits and to address what he says are unfair practices in the company's glass-and-steel retail showrooms.
"The core issues definitely involve compensation, pay, benefits," Moll said, adding that he decided to go public with the union to encourage other employees to come forward.
While unions are strong in industries like trucking and autos, they are largely unheard of in Silicon Valley companies, which pride themselves on being quick-footed and having the flexibility to hire and fire.
Moll's budding campaign is also unusual given Apple's reputation for fierce employee loyalty.
Apple has more than 30,000 retail employees in its 325 stores around the world.
Moll, who has been working at Apple for four years, said he makes US$14 an hour at the San Francisco Apple Store. The minimum wage for 2011 in San Francisco, one of the most expensive cities in the US, is US$9.92 an hour.
The 30-year-old employee primarily communicates with other Apple Store employees through Twitter, Facebook and the "Apple Retail Workers Union" website, which he created in May.
Moll has received little public support from employees so far, though he said he has e-mails expressing support.
"There's a lot of hesitation to want to speak about it," he said. "I don't think there's 50 percent (support) in any one store but as people talk about it, we could get close in a couple of stores."
A majority of workers at a certain facility need to be interested before an union can be formed.
An Apple representative confirmed Moll is an employee, but declined to comment on the union effort.
"It's kind of a feeling of David versus Goliath," Moll said of trying to start a union movement in a US$320 billion company.
Cory Moll, a part-time employee at an Apple Store in San Francisco, is working to form a union to fight for better wages and benefits and to address what he says are unfair practices in the company's glass-and-steel retail showrooms.
"The core issues definitely involve compensation, pay, benefits," Moll said, adding that he decided to go public with the union to encourage other employees to come forward.
While unions are strong in industries like trucking and autos, they are largely unheard of in Silicon Valley companies, which pride themselves on being quick-footed and having the flexibility to hire and fire.
Moll's budding campaign is also unusual given Apple's reputation for fierce employee loyalty.
Apple has more than 30,000 retail employees in its 325 stores around the world.
Moll, who has been working at Apple for four years, said he makes US$14 an hour at the San Francisco Apple Store. The minimum wage for 2011 in San Francisco, one of the most expensive cities in the US, is US$9.92 an hour.
The 30-year-old employee primarily communicates with other Apple Store employees through Twitter, Facebook and the "Apple Retail Workers Union" website, which he created in May.
Moll has received little public support from employees so far, though he said he has e-mails expressing support.
"There's a lot of hesitation to want to speak about it," he said. "I don't think there's 50 percent (support) in any one store but as people talk about it, we could get close in a couple of stores."
A majority of workers at a certain facility need to be interested before an union can be formed.
An Apple representative confirmed Moll is an employee, but declined to comment on the union effort.
"It's kind of a feeling of David versus Goliath," Moll said of trying to start a union movement in a US$320 billion company.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
