Apple Inc. logo. Photo credit: Courtesy, Apple
Apple Inc. will make work schedules for retail staff flexible amid a push towards unionization, according to reports Thursday.
The company told staff at some stores that the scheduling changes will take effect in coming months, Bloomberg News said, quoting workers.
The changes will include extending the minimum time period between shifts to 12 hours from 10 hours.
Apple has five stores in San Diego County, at Fashion Valley in Mission Valley, UTC in University City, Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista, Westfield North County in Escondido and The Forum in Carlsbad.
The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Last week, the iPhone maker told Reuters it will raise pay for its U.S. employees to $22 per hour or more.
The Cupertino-based company, known for its reticent culture, was last year criticized online for its working conditions by some current and former workers.
In April, workers at Apple’s Atlanta store filed a petition to hold a union election, seeking to become the company’s first U.S. store to unionize amid a wave of labor activity at other major firms.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it will not resist unionization efforts by its employees as it recognizes their legal right to choose to form or join a union.
Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru, editing by Arun Koyyur.
– Reuters