A union that represents Apple Inc.’s Australian workers who produce iPhones voted to strike on Tuesday over the failure of pay discussions, a union official said.
The internet company’s store operations in the nation will be disrupted by the one-hour walkout scheduled for October 18, adding to the strain it already faces in other countries regarding labor relations.
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), which represents roughly 150 of Apple’s 4,000 Australian employees, claimed the walkout will limit most customer services in at least three of the company’s 22 stores in the nation.
According to the RAFFWU, the strike would be the first for Apple in Australia and would increase the company’s exposure to collective bargaining globally at a time when rising cost-of-living pressures are driving unionization among American employees of Apple and other major corporations like Amazon.com Inc.
By putting forth a fresh set of locked-in wage increases and conditions in August, Apple in Australia sparked a new round of union negotiations. According to the RAFFWU and two other unions, an industrial arbitration accepted their request for more time to negotiate in September.
The RAFFWU federal secretary Josh Cullinan told the journalists over the phone that “we’ve gotten to the end of that today and we still aren’t anywhere near a satisfactory deal, therefore last night members unanimously backed that approach.”
It will have an effect if many employees leave at once.
The majority of Australian Apple stores with RAFFWU representation will have workers go on strike, although Cullinan warned the impact would be greatest at stores with more representation.
The three unions claim they want Apple to promise two things: weekends that are two consecutive days rather than divided, and wage rises that mirror inflation, which is now tracking at roughly 7% in Australia, double the central bank’s goal range.
According to a Tuesday statement from Apple, “We are committed to offering the finest experience (for our employees),” which includes “extremely strong remuneration and benefits, annual stock grants, and comprehensive leave policies, all of which surpass Australian industry standards.”
