ALT Staff at Southampton Apple Store submit formal request for union recognition UK Employees seek voluntary recognition from management in a bid to improve pay and conditions at south coast store.   September 4, 2023, Southampton, UK — Staff at Southampton’s Apple Store have today formally notified store management of their desire to be recognised as a unionised workforce. As members of the United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW) — the CWU’s national tech worker branch — they have requested what is known as “voluntary recognition,” where the store agrees to recognise and work with unionised staff as a single bargaining unit. Management has two weeks to respond to the request.

ALT Staff in the store are all too aware of these challenges. One union member commented, "Apple Retail is touted as a top employer but the reality is one of an overworked and unhappy workforce. They try to keep us sweet with various benefits but don't pay nearly enough for the amount of hard work, skills and knowledge that are required. We've tried bringing issues up through employee forums and internal grievances but these are always dismissed with a fake smile. That's why we decided to form a union." However, specific to Southampton are concerns about the treatment of disabled, neurodivergent and chronically ill staff as well as fears around job security, particularly associated with changes being made to Genius Bar. Speaking about this, another union member who works as an Apple Genius said that “increasingly, in-store repairs are being outsourced to cheaper contract labour in large service centres. It means a reduction in the quality of service and adds shipping time to repairs.”

ALT Staff hope that by unionising they can collectively ensure improvements to their working conditions and build a productive relationship with management that meets the needs of everyone. UTAW organiser Eran Cohen, who has been working with staff, said “Our members have been organising in Southampton for some time and have faced substantial union-busting efforts from Apple management, including victimising their elected reps and preventing staff from discussing their union while at work. It’s time for Apple to recognise its tenuous ethical position and start talking to workers on an equal footing.”  If Apple fails to respond to the request, staff can seek what is called statutory recognition through the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC).

ALT Up on stage in front of a lectern speaking.