NLRB accuses Apple of illegally proscribing worker Slack and social media use

The Nationwide Labor Relations Board has accused Apple of infringing on its workers’ rights to advocate for higher working situations. In a complaint noticed by Reuters, the company alleges Apple illegally fired an worker who had used Slack to advocate for office modifications on the firm. Individually, the NLRB accuses Apple of forcing one other employee to delete a social media put up.

The case stems from a 2021 grievance filed by #AppleToo co-organizer Janneke Parrish. In October of that yr, Apple fired Parrish for allegedly sharing confidential data, a claim she denies. Per the grievance, Parrish used Slack and public social media posts to advocate for everlasting distant work.

She additionally shared open letters important of the tech big, distributed a pay fairness survey, and recounted cases of sexual and racial discrimination at Apple. Based on the labor board, Apple’s insurance policies bars workers from creating Slack channels with out first acquiring permission from a supervisor. As an alternative, staff should direct their office considerations to both administration or a “Individuals Help” group the corporate maintains. An instance of the kind of considerations some workers used Slack to voice may be seen in a 2021 tweet from former Apple employee Ashley Gjøvik.

“We look ahead to holding Apple accountable at trial for implementing facially illegal guidelines and terminating workers for participating within the core protected exercise of calling out gender discrimination and different civil rights violations that permeated the office,” Parrish’s lawyer, Laurie Burgess, advised Reuters.

Apple disputes Parrish’s claims. “We’re and have all the time been deeply dedicated to creating and sustaining a optimistic and inclusive office. We take all considerations critically and we totally examine at any time when a priority is raised and, out of respect for the privateness of any people concerned, we don’t talk about particular worker issues,” an Apple spokesperson advised Engadget. “We strongly disagree with these claims and can proceed to share the information on the listening to.”

Offered Apple doesn’t settle with the company, an preliminary listening to is scheduled for February with an administrative decide. The NLRB is trying to power the corporate to alter its coverage and reimburse Parrish for the monetary hardships she suffered on account of her firing. Final week, the NLRB accused Apple of forcing workers to signal unlawful and overly broad confidentially, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements.

Replace 7:09PM ET: Added remark from Apple.