US Labor Council accuses Apple of restricting workers’ use of Slack and other social media platforms

The US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has accused Apple of violating workers’ rights by limiting their ability to use social media and Slack to advocate for better working conditions. In a complaint filed Thursday, the NLRB alleges that Apple maintained illegal policies regarding the use of Slack, wrongfully fired an employee for pushing for workplace reforms through the platform, asked another employee to delete a social media post and fostered an environment in which employees felt they were being monitored online.

This is the second complaint filed against Apple by the NLRB this month. Last week, the agency accused the tech giant of requiring employees nationwide to sign illegal confidentiality, nondisclosure and noncompetition agreements, as well as enforcing policies too restrictive when it comes to misconduct and social media.

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Apple responds

Apple responded to this incident, in which a spokesperson said: “We strongly disagree with these assertions and will continue to share the facts during the hearing. The spokesperson added that the company is committed to maintaining “a positive and inclusive workplace” and takes employee complaints seriously.

In response to the complaint filed last week, Apple denied any wrongdoing, saying it respected its employees’ rights to discuss wages, hours and working conditions.

If the company cannot reach an agreement with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an administrative law judge is expected to hear the case in February. The judge’s decision can then be reviewed by the full five-member labor board, with further appeals possible to the Federal Court. The latest case is related to a complaint filed nearly three years ago by Janneke Parrish, who claims Apple fired her in 2021 because of her involvement in employee activism.

Where does it all start?

According to the NLRB complaint, Parrish used Slack and social media to advocate for permanent remote work, share a pay equity investigation, highlight allegations of gender and racial discrimination at Apple, and post open letters criticizing the ‘business.

Apple introduced Slack to its workforce a few years ago, and its use increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a forum for discussion among employees. However, according to the NLRB complaint, Apple has a policy that requires employees to get approval from management before creating new Slack channels. The complaint also alleges that messages related to workplace concerns must be directed to a manager or the People Support team, limiting open dialogue.

Laurie Burgess, the lawyer representing Janneke Parrish, criticized Apple’s conduct, saying via email that the company had committed “extensive violations” of workers’ rights.

Burgess said: “We look forward to holding Apple accountable at trial for implementing apparently illegal rules and firing employees for engaging in the protected core activity of speaking out against gender discrimination and other civil rights violations that have permeated the workplace.

The complaint seeks an order requiring Apple to revoke its apparently illegal policies and compensate Parrish for lost wages and any other financial consequences resulting from his termination.