Unions have labelled tech-giant Apple’s efforts to approve a new workplace agreement for employees as unlawful or at least unethical.
The Australian Services Union and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association have accused the company of trying to rush through its enterprise bargaining agreement, following a rejection of extending the consultation process.
Under the proposed agreement, workers would receive a 2.5 per cent pay rise.
However, the unions say the rise is a real pay cut, given the high levels of inflation, with workers also subject to doing 60 hour weeks without overtime.
Unions have accused Apple of obstructing attempts to survey workers in preparation for wage negotiations, saying it breached good faith bargaining requirements in the Fair Work Act.
The tech company rejected a union proposal to extend a deadline for consultation by two to three weeks.
Emeline Gaske, the assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Unions, said Apple’s actions were out of step with community expectations.
“The proposed agreement from Apple may be unlawful and its attempts to ram through a substandard agreement that would leave mostly young people working up to 60 hours without overtime is unethical,” she said.
“Apple’s actions show us exactly what is wrong with the process of negotiating pay and conditions for workers in Australia, which is giving employers far too much power.”
SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said larger pay rises were needed for Apple staff in order to keep up with the rising cost of living and increasing inflation,
“Apple like to portray itself as a prestige company offering prestige products,” he said.
“It should be seeking prestige working conditions, rather than trying to sneak through an agreement that would see its Australian workers go backwards.”
The bargaining agreement stoush comes ahead of the federal government’s jobs and skills summit, which is due to take place in Canberra next week over two days.
The summit will bring together both unions and employers to find common ground on solving workforce shortages, as well as the broader workplace system.
