Pass the Resolution on Apple Worker Freedom
Tim Cook, Apple Board of Directors, and Apple Shareholders
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We implore Apple shareholders to support workers’ rights.
Apple shareholders will soon have an opportunity to support a
proposal that asks the Board of Directors to commission an independent assessment of Apple’s compliance with its stated commitment to workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The report would cover Apple’s direct and licensed operations and evaluate management conduct when employees exercise their right to form or join a trade union as well as steps to remedy any practices inconsistent with Apple’s stated commitments. We urge shareholders to support this proposal and we implore Apple not to stand in the way of implementing this important accountability measure.
Apple has committed itself to global labor rights frameworks including the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. According to the ILO, “Freedom of association refers to the right of workers … to create and join organizations of their choice freely and without fear of reprisal or interference” and collective bargaining “allows workers to negotiate their working conditions freely with their employers.”
Yet Apple continues to interfere with its employees’ right to form unions in their workplaces. Over the last year, workers have
charged Apple with engaging in such interference through intimidation tactics to deter organizing, including one-on-one manager meetings, captive audience meetings, retaliatory firings, and threats of reduction or elimination of benefits. As of August 25, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board was investigating 14 charges of unfair labor practices.
Apple’s own non-interference practices should be consistent with those it requires from suppliers, which are explicitly referenced in its Supplier Code of Conduct: “Supplier[s] shall freely allow Workers’ lawful rights to associate with others, form and join (or refrain from joining) organizations of their choice, and bargain collectively, without interference, discrimination, retaliation, or harassment.”
In contrast to Apple’s approach, Microsoft recently adopted company-wide
principles that recognize the importance of employer non-interference, and announced a “labor neutrality agreement” at Activision Blizzard which “reflects a fundamental belief … that enabling workers to freely and fairly make a choice about union representation will benefit Microsoft and its employees…”.
To:
Tim Cook, Apple Board of Directors, and Apple Shareholders
From:
[Your Name]
Apple has committed itself to global labor rights frameworks from the International Labor Organization and United Nations, yet it continues to interfere with its employees’ right to form unions in their workplaces. As of August 25, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board was investigating 14 charges of unfair labor practices. Apple shareholders will soon have an opportunity to support a proposal that asks the Board of Directors to commission an independent assessment of Apple’s compliance with its stated commitment to workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The report would cover Apple’s direct and licensed operations and evaluate management conduct when employees exercise their right to form or join a trade union. We implore shareholders to support this important proposal and we ask Apple not to stand in the way of implementation.
