Welcome!
Hello friends,
Thank you for signing up to stay up to date about the efforts being made to organise at Apple Australia.
The purpose of this mailing list is to make sure everyone remains engaged, is able to receive the latest information in the most secure way, and give you the ability to ask any questions you may have. These emails will be going out to existing union members as well as those who are considering joining.
As most of you know, Apple has seen significant change in the last ten years: the company has grown to an almost $3 trillion behemoth, profiting more than any other company in human history. This is a result of the incredible products and services it produces, but also because of people like you. You are the face of the company to the customer; you create owners and repair relationships.
Apple is not sharing that success with us. It is not appreciating what we do.
Tim Cook received a $100 million compensation package in 2021 for hitting 10 years as CEO; retail/AHA/RCC employees who reach 10 years receive a block of aluminium.
Apple has authorised a stock buyback program worth $90 billion, spending revenue on inflating the stock price rather than spending on employees.
Apple employees make the most revenue per employee than any other company in the world at $2.5 million per person; the median compensation at Apple is $68,254. The ratio between median employee compensation and the CEO is 1447 to 1.
There is simply no excuse for a company that is this successful, this progressive, — that aligns itself with Martin Luther King Jr — and this revered to under pay what it believes to be its most important people.
We can change this. We must change this.
By working together and joining a union, we will be able to force Apple to negotiate with us on things like pay, scheduling, and working conditions. In Australia, joining a union is a right that is protected by law. Apple cannot pressure you into not joining a union, they cannot retaliate against you if you do, and they cannot find out if you have joined a union unless you tell them. They are risking being pulled in front of the Fair Work Commission, facing heavy fines, and media exposure if they do.
Many countries that Apple operates in already have unionised employees (Germany, Japan, France), and there are many who are just beginning to unionise (US, UK, and now Australia)
Apple Employees are able to be represented by trade unions in Australia:
For Genius Bar, Business, and Creative staff, the Australian Services Union (ASU), who represent IT and business technology workers like Fuji/Xerox, Canon, Konica-Minolta
For Product Zone, Backstage, and other areas, the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), who represent businesses like Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, and Bunnings
Membership dues are 100% tax deductible.
Now is the time to organise, we cannot accept the meagre wage increases, the shocking scheduling, and the lip-service that is Pulse meetings any longer.
If you would like to help in the effort, or have any questions or issues you would like to raise please reply to this email.
“When you have great people, the most important thing is to not lose them.”
-Steve Jobs, Apple Special Event 1998
In solidarity,
Apple Together Australia