CWA/Apple Retail Bargaining Report #22 Penn Square Location, Oklahoma City, OK

CWA/Apple Bargaining team met this past Friday in day two of our one and a half day session for April. 

The morning began with our Union chair making comments in response to the Company’s response on Thursday that they pay above the living wage in Oklahoma which is $19.44. Billy pointed out that the living wage they quoted is for a single person with zero dependents, and if you had one dependent, it jumps to $33.38 an hour which only five people in the store currently are above. We know firsthand that at least ⅓ of the store has children and some even take care of elderly family members. Billy’s comments continued with the fact that the Company has taken some of our proposals and sent their Labor Relations Manager, Eklemchi Okpo, to Short Hills, NJ to use them as mockery. If you weren’t aware, this is a third Apple store that has organized and will be voting next month to Unionize. Mr. Okpo has been present at every session so far since last year at our table minus one session due to the birth of a child. So Union busting seemed to be more important this month for Apple and his role than bargaining with us.

The Company’s Chair claimed they were not aware of our tentative agreed to proposals being used in NJ, so she asked for a recess to investigate. After about an hour, they came back and admitted they had printed off some of the tentative agreed to proposals to combat what a Union Organizer was saying to workers in the store. Billy pointed out he has never heard of this person nor has he met them. The message from the Union was this was very damaging to our relationship at our table and both parties should only be focused on what is happening at Penn Square and getting to a first contract as that's what our role is. 

Prior to closing out the April session, the Company presented a counter to our vacation and holidays proposals with their original language and policy of what you have now. Our proposal would give you all vacation you are to earn at the first of the calendar year based on tenure not hours worked. We pointed out that we are not interested in the status quo on what workers have now, and will be working on our counter for May. 

They ended the day with a very weak wage proposal that wouldn’t even cover inflation and the rise of healthcare costs which is averaging close to 6% a year. It was also tied to performance which is not something we are interested in. We had fully left the door open for them to come out with additional ways to earn money through comp plans and bonuses, but not the general wage increases. We believe those should apply to everyone as inflation doesn’t slow down if you miss your metrics.

It’s very obvious these next few sessions will be a battle with this Company that is worth 2.5 trillion dollars currently! We have submitted an RFI to look at what this store alone is generating on a monthly basis. 

In closing, we will be ramping up mobilization moving forward and will need all hands on deck to get the best contract we can get for you, the workers. Our next session is scheduled for May 14 & 15, 2024. Stay strong and united, as we are prepared to fight until we know there is nothing left on the table!

In Unity and Solidarity,

CWA/Apple Bargaining Team

Kirsten Matson, Technical Expert
Kevin Romo Velasco, Specialist
Darren Griffis, Business Expert
Michael Forsythe, Genius Admin
Jay Albertson, President Emeritus CWA 6016
Billy Moffett, CWA District 6 Assistant to the Vice-President

BM/ss
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