Apple violated US labor laws through various workplace rules and statements made by executives, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officials determined after reviewing allegations from two former employees. An NLRB official will file a formal complaint against Apple unless the company reaches a settlement with the former employees, who filed complaints about Apples focus on secrecy. An NLRB spokesperson confirmed to Ars today that the labor boards regional office found merit to four charges alleging that various work rules, handbook rules, and confidentiality rules at Apple violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act because they reasonably tend to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their right to protected concerted activity. The regional office additionally found merit to a charge alleging statements and conduct by Apple-including high-level executives-also violated the National Labor Relations Act. This is in response to five charges brought in late 2021 by two former Apple employees, Ashley Gjovik and Cher Scarlett, who were involved in the activist group called #AppleToo. The ex-employees accused the company of trying to prevent the group from collecting wage data from employees, including through harassment, and said that the company's work rules prevented them from discussing wages, hours and conditions of employment. Gjovik's complaints alleged that various Apple rules, including those relating to confidentiality and surveillance policies, deter employees from discussing issues such as pay equity and sex discrimination with each other and the media. Gjovik also cited a 2021 email from Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook that allegedly sought to stop workers from speaking to the press and said people who leak confidential information do not belong here. If the parties don't settle, the Regional Director will issue a complaint, prosecuting this charge in a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge, who could order remedies. An administrative law judges decision could be appealed to the board, and a board decision, in turn, could be appealed to a federal appeals court. The NLRB's standard process calls for the agency to help the parties reach a deal.
This Cyber News was published on packetstormsecurity.com. Publication date: Wed, 01 Feb 2023 19:26:55 +0000