On Wednesday, April 20, an Apple retail store in Atlanta, Georgia filed a petition to unionize, becoming the first location to attempt the action. 

The Cumberland Mall store has been drumming up support for the union efforts for several months.

This recent petition filing marks the latest indication that the American workforce is waking up to their power after the pandemic showed society how valuable its workers are. 

People throughout many industries, from Starbucks baristas, Amazon warehouse workers, and even video game testers have been successful in their organizing efforts. 

In February, The Washington Post reported that multiple Apple stores across the nation are involved in different stages of unionization efforts. 

On Saturday, April 16, The Post reported that the Apple store at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan was gathering signatures for support of a unionization effort.

In response to the Atlanta store’s petition, the Iphone retailer released a predictable statement about the compensation and benefits that are already available to employees, including paid family leave, tuition reimbursement, and healthcare. 

On Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board confirmed that it received the petition from the Cumberland Mall store and is currently determining whether the union can move forward with an election.

"We work hard at Apple because we really believe in the products and the company and we want to make sure that every Apple worker is able to afford quality housing and basic living expenses," Elli Daniels, an Apple worker who is part of the union effort, said in a statement.

Apple store employees told The Post wages are poor and communications with management and the company’s corporate offices are less than ideal. 

Apple employees earn a minimum of $20 per hour and are eligible for stock grants, but argue that their pay should be higher considering the company’s record-breaking profits and revenue. 

Employees are also frustrated with the current scheduling system that is set up a month in advance and gives employees little opportunity to modify it, if changes need to be made.

Grand Central Terminal store employees have named themselves “Fruit Stand Workers United,” and have already published a website urging fellow employees to join the union effort. 

“Grand Central is an extraordinary store with unique working conditions that make a union necessary to ensure our team has the best possible standards of living in what have proven to be extraordinary times,” the web site reads.

The Fruit Stand Workers United want a minimum hourly wage of $30 per hour as well as a handful of improved benefits, including more vacation time and better retirement options.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta, Georgia store is asking for wages to be raised to $28 an hour, which employees say is the minimum needed to afford a one-bedroom apartment without being burdened by rent.

The union is also asking for bigger raises to combat inflation and more profit sharing to match its corporate employees. An on-site election is proposed for May 5-7. 

“Right now, I think, is the right time because we simply see momentum swinging the way of workers. As we sat back and re-evaluated, what we realized is that we love being at Apple — and leaving Apple, that’s not something any of us wants to do. But improving it is something we wanted to do,” Derrick Bowles, a Cumberland Mall Apple employee and member of the organizing committee, told Time.