Apple’s ‘un-Australian’ act to 4000 workers

Apple is being taken to the Fair Work Commission for alleged “unlawful” and “un-Australian” acts towards 4000 workers.

Apple will be taken to the Fair Work Commission on Friday for allegedly trying to “unlawfully” rush Australian workers into a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) slammed Apple in a joint statement released by the unions on Tuesday, accusing the tech giant of preventing union organisers from talking to employees.

The unions allege Apple tried to push its employees into accepting an “unseemly” agreement after their request to prolong the consultation process by extending the company's deadline to August 19 was rejected.

Unions say Apple’s demands could cut the wages of more than 4000 employees. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Apple has denied setting any deadlines throughout the process.

SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer accused Apple of moving with “undue haste” towards an enterprise bargaining agreement that could cut the wages of more than 4000 employees.

“Staff were only given a copy of the draft enterprise agreement on August 3,” he said.

“They had their first meeting about a week later. The SGA and the ASU were not invited to that meeting.

“We are trying to play catch up here with a company that's throwing its weight around with its workforce, operating with undue haste.”

Mr Dwyer said they would take Apple to the Fair Work Commission for these reasons.

“Their approach, we say, is not ethical and we also will allege this Friday in the Fair Work Commission that their approach is unlawful,” he said.

“The SDA and ASU are taking Apple to the commission and this Friday we will be seeking good faith bargaining orders against Apple.”

He added he was “very confident” the Fair Work Commission would find that Apple was not bargaining in good faith.

Australian Services Union assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske said young Apple workers could work 60 hours a week without overtime. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The ASU and SDA said numerous proposals Apple made were “unfair” to workers.

It argued the global giant’s proposed 2.5 per cent minimum rates increase was well below inflation, there was a lack of rostering protections to ensure good work/life balance, and mostly young Apple employees could work 60 hours in a week without overtime.

Apple said its employees are offered “very strong compensation” for their work, including annual stock grants.

ASU assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske said Apple’s proposed demands to its employees were “unethical”.

“The proposed agreement from Apple may be unlawful and its attempts to ram through a substandard agreement that would leave mostly young people working up to 60 hours without overtime is unethical,” she said.

“On the eve of the National Jobs Summit when employers and workers are supposed to be finding common ground and working together for a fairer workplace system, Apple’s actions are out of step with the community’s expectations.”

SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said employees were already struggling under Apple’s work agreements. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Dwyer added that Apple’s behaviour was “simply un-Australian”.

“Apple likes to portray itself as a prestige company offering prestige products. It should be seeking prestige working conditions, rather than trying to sneak through an agreement that would see its Australian workers going backwards,” he said.

“With inflation above six per cent and rising, this would see Apple employees already struggling with the cost of living finding it even more difficult to pay for food, fuel, shelter and the other essentials of life.

“For a company that is making at least $11bn in profits annually from its Australian operations, its behaviour is simply un-Australian.”

Apple said it would continue to meet with its employees as it looks to form a new enterprise agreement.

“We are proud to have an incredible team of nearly 4000 people in Australia and we deeply value everything they bring to Apple, and to our customers,” it said in a statement.

“Supporting and retaining the best team members enables us to deliver innovative products and services, and we are pleased to offer very strong compensation for our teams across the country, including annual stock grants.

“We announced our intention to form a new enterprise agreement in early August, and we welcome the opportunity for participation and engagement with our team members.

“Throughout this process Apple has not set any deadlines and we will continue to hold regular meetings to share and encourage feedback.”

Additional bargaining discussions are scheduled for this week.

Originally published as Apple’s ‘un-Australian’ act to 4000 workers