Labor Organization and investors accuse Apple of inconsistency between words and deeds: demanding a review of "employee rights" issues

Sina Technology News Beijing time on the evening of September 7, it is reported that the United States Labor Organization and investors have submitted a shareholder proposal asking Apple to review the issue of "how it treats employees' rights."

The proposal, submitted by groups such as SOC Investment Group, a union pension fund adviser, and a branch of SEIU, alleges that there is a clear discrepancy between Apple's public commitment to freedom of association, such as freedom of association, and its actual actions, such as trying to prevent the formation of a union.

"if there is a difference between a company's values and its actual behavior, that's a problem," said Ditte Weizenegger, executive director of SOC Investment Group.

An Apple representative declined to comment.

Other authors of the proposal include New York City Comptroller Brad Rand (Brad Lander), asset management companies Trillium Asset Management and Parnassus Investments.

In May, the Communications Workers Association of America (CWA) accused Apple of violating federal labor laws by interrogating and monitoring employees, restricting them from posting union flyers and forcing them to attend anti-union speeches. In addition, Apple has hired anti-union lawyers at Littler Mendelson, the largest labor law firm in the United States, in an attempt to prevent employees from unionizing.

It is reported that Apple's 2023 shareholder proposal expires tomorrow (September 8). Labor organizations and investors are submitting shareholder proposals at this time, hoping not only to take advantage of the recent surge in unionisation, but also to coincide with Apple's launch of a new generation of iPhone.

At Apple's shareholders' meeting in March, two proposals won a majority of votes, one requiring Apple to conduct a civil rights audit and the other requiring Apple to review the use of its confidentiality clause and other agreements to restrict the speech of workers.

In addition to Apple, Amazon and Starbucks are also trying to prevent employees from unionizing.