A union said 5 Apple Store workers were fired illegally for trying to organize

An Apple store.

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• A union said five workers at Apple stores in two states were fired illegally.
• The Communications Workers of America union filed two Unfair Labor Practice charges.
• One worker said he was told he's been fired for making a typo on his timesheet.

A union said five Apple retail workers in two states had been fired illegally and it was taking action against the company.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed two Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board on March 27, per a press release.

In an email statement to Insider, the union said the workers at stores in Kansas City, Missouri and Houston, Texas were "fired and have faced intimidation on the job for exercising their right to organize." 

It was the first unfair labour practice charge filed by the CWA against Apple for alleged unlawful termination of workers for union organizing.

D'lite Xiong, a former Apple retail worker in Kansas City, said: "Apple management said I was fired for a typo in my timesheet that I had documented and tried to correct. Yet, it is clear the real reason I was fired was for exercising my right to organize and win a protected voice on the job."

Xiong added: "Apple then attempted to silence me by having me sign a release in order to receive my severance package. No one working at Apple should be interrogated, intimidated, or silenced for trying to organize and win our fair share."

The CWA said the iPhone maker had chosen the "low road" since some retail workers began organizing last year, with workers at several stores experiencing similar issues.

The charges, seen by Insider, alleged that management at the Memorial City store in Houston questioned some workers individually about their support of their union, "promised improved working conditions if they declined to support the union, and threatened with worsening workplace conditions if they continued to organize."

The CWA also said workers were disciplined for supporting the union, per the press release.

"It is clear that Apple's senior management team does not respect their workers' legally protected right to organize and negotiate for better pay and working conditions," said Claude Cummings Jr., a CWA vice-president.

"Apple has chosen to continue to break the law, so we will continue to hold the company accountable because no corporation is above the law. Apple's attempt to interfere with worker organizing is only strengthening the resolve of workers to win a seat at the negotiating table," he added.

It is unlawful for any companies to retaliate against workers for union activity, according to the NLRB. 

Apple didn't respond to requests for comment from Insider.

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