NLRB Revokes Claims That Cook Team Email Violates Worker Rights

Apple CEO Tim Cook and his fans at the launch of the iPhone (photo: x @tim_dook)

JAKARTA - The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or the US National Labor Relations Council has withdrawn previous claims stating that Apple CEO Tim Cook violated US labor law by sending anti-corruption emails to employees.

After four years of consideration, NLRB finally concluded that a company CEO who does not want employees to leak company secrets, is not a violation of federal labor law.

In 2021, after a meeting of all employees discussing wage equality, Tim Cook's comments were leaked to the press. Cook, who is understandablely frustrated by the leak of the information, sent warning emails to employees. Then, Cook's email was fully leaked to the public.

Initially, the NLRB stated that Apple's confidentiality policy was "disturbing, limiting, and forcing employees to exercise their rights."

The agency also questioned Janneke Badminton's dismissal. He stated that Apple fired him for organizing the #AppleToo movement.

Shortly after the Trump administration came to power, cases were suspended for an indefinite time. Now, the NLRB has ignored all of its accusations against Apple.

As previously reported by Bloomberg, NLRB formally withdrew all alegations that Apple violated federal labor law. On Friday, September 26, the organization sent a letter to lawyers representing her.

In the letter, a regional director of the NLRB explained that the agency had decided that the claim against Apple should be dropped. This decision was taken after they "investigated and carefully considered" the allegation that Apple violated federal labor law.

While Apple may have been free of this issue in the United States, other legal battles are still ongoing.

There are new accusations that Apple must face from a Chinese labor organization. Apple is accused of allowing Foxconn's long working hours, discrimination, and delays in payments at the major iPhone factory.