Apple’s Maryland store became the company’s first retail store to unionize earlier this year. This was despite Apple’s best efforts to head off all unionization attempts.
The store employees are now demanding a 10% hike in their pay, overtime policies and more time off. More importantly, they also want Apple to allow consumers to tip retail employees.
Apple Maryland staffers want a tipping system
Represented by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Apple’s Maryland store workers are conducting negotiations on Wednesday and Thursday. As a part of their negotiations, they want a 10% hike in their salaries. And on top of that, they want Apple to adopt a tipping system. Customers can tip employees 3%, 5%, or a custom amount for in-store credit card transactions.
In its letter to Apple, the union wrote, “This will allow thankful patrons the ability to express gratitude for a job well done without any obligations. All monies collected through this manner would be dispersed to members of the bargaining unit biweekly based on any hours worked.”
Additionally, the union demands more pay from Apple for working on holidays. They also want double pay for retail workers on duty for more than eight hours daily or over 40 hours/week. And for staffers who work overtime on weekends, there should be an additional pay boost.
Other demands include extended vacation pay and increasing bereavement leave from 10 days per occurrence to 45 days per year. The break should also expand to include pets and close family members. Further, they want Apple to pay an extra $1/hour to employees trained to provide first-aid. Lastly, they want severance pay increased to 34 weeks.
Apple is unlikely to accept these demands
Given how absurd some of the demands of Apple Maryland workers are, the Cupertino giant is unlikely to accept them. This will also bog down negotiations with Apple and could lead to other more important requests being delayed.
Reportedly, the union has reached a tentative agreement with Apple over resolving paycheck errors and an updated health and safety committee. Apple has also promised to hire retail employees across other locations if one store shuts down.
