NLRB accuses Apple of illegally restricting employees’ use of Slack and social media

The National Labor Relations Board has accused Apple of infringing on its employees’ rights to advocate for better working conditions. In a complaint spotted by ReutersThe agency alleges that Apple illegally fired an employee who used Slack to advocate for workplace changes at the company. In addition, the NLRB accuses Apple of forcing another employee to delete a social media post.

The case stems from a complaint filed in 2021 by #AppleToo co-organizer Janneke Parrish. In October of that year, Apple fired Parrish for allegedly sharing confidential information, a claim she denies. According to the complaint, Parrish used Slack and public social media posts to advocate for permanent remote work.

She also shared open letters criticizing the tech giant, distributed a pay equity survey and recounted instances of gender and racial discrimination at Apple. According to the labor council, Apple’s policies prohibit employees from creating Slack channels without first getting permission from a manager. Instead, workers should address workplace concerns either to management or to a company-run “people support” group. An example of the type of concerns some employees used Slack to express can be seen in a 2021 tweet from former Apple employee Ashley Gjøvik.

“We look forward to holding Apple accountable at trial for enforcing 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 permeated the workplace,” said Parrish’s attorney, Laurie Burgess. Reuters.

Apple did not immediately respond to Engadget’s request for comment.

Provided that Apple does not reach an agreement with the agency, a first hearing is scheduled for February with an administrative judge. The NLRB is seeking to force the company to change its policy and reimburse Parrish for the financial hardship it suffered due to her termination. Last week, the NLRB accused Apple of forcing its employees to sign illegal and overbroad confidentiality, nondisclosure and noncompetition agreements.