Regardless of Apple’s objections, the Baltimore Apple Retailer final yr grew to become the primary within the nation to unionize, and now we’re getting a glimpse into the negotiations for the following contract. Among the many proposals by union representatives: greater pay and ideas for “a job nicely executed.”
In accordance with a Bloomberg report, the Worldwide Affiliation of Machinists and Aerospace Staff entered into negotiations with Apple this week by submitting its first sequence of proposals to administration. Among the many union’s requests are pretty customary proposals: 10 p.c pay raises, adjustments to the corporate’s trip coverage, bereavement depart, and time beyond regulation.
However probably the most controversial inclusion is a brand new tipping system, which might immediate prospects to go away gratuities of three p.c, 5 p.c, or a customized quantity for any in-store transactions. In accordance with the union, ideas “will enable grateful patrons the power to specific gratitude for a job nicely executed with none obligations.” The union says ideas can be pooled and “dispersed to members of the bargaining unit biweekly based mostly on any hours labored.”
Tipping prompts are commonplace for meals supply and repair however aren’t typically collected at retail shops, the place staff historically receives a commission a better wage. Apple Retailer staff reportedly make a minimal of $22 per hour following a 2022 pay elevate. The union can be searching for double pay for workers who work greater than eight hours a day or 40 hours every week, and as much as 34 weeks of severance pay following layoffs.
The union seems to know that the tipping coverage is a nonstarter and stated in an announcement that the proposal merely represents the primary part of negotiations, with the purpose of reaching “an appropriate contract for the membership to ratify.”