Atlanta, GA
Apple union push faces setback as Atlanta organizers withdraw bid for vote, citing alleged intimidation and rising Covid cases
Consumers stroll previous an Apple Retailer at Franklin Park Mall throughout Black Friday. Consumers go to shops to make the most of Black Friday gross sales in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephen Zenner | SOPA Pictures | LightRocket | Getty Pictures
A union vote at an Apple retailer on the Cumberland Mall location in Atlanta is in query after the union attempting to arrange the retail staff withdrew its request for an election.
The union, Communications Staff of America, alleged in a press release that Apple has violated labor legal guidelines and made a good election unattainable. As well as, CWA mentioned that there are rising numbers of Covid circumstances on the retailer, which may stop staff from voting safely.
The vote was beforehand scheduled for subsequent week and if profitable, would have been the primary unionized U.S. Apple retailer.
The event is a setback for Apple staff’ efforts to unionize on the firm’s retail shops within the U.S. Along with the Cumberland Mall location, there are at the least three different Apple shops with staff holding public union drives. A retailer in Maryland is scheduled to vote whether or not to unionize on June 15.
“An amazing majority of the employees on the Cumberland Mall Retailer introduced that they have been forming a union in April and requested recognition from the corporate. Since then Apple has performed a scientific, subtle marketing campaign to intimidate them and intervene with their proper to type a union,” a CWA consultant mentioned in a press release. “This conduct violates U.S. legislation, the rules of Apple’s credo and vendor code of conduct, and worldwide human rights requirements.”
“We aren’t transferring ahead with the election given what Apple’s response has been and the coercive setting they created,” the Cumberland Mall Organizing Committee mentioned in a message to co-workers on the retailer.
“It is an outrage and a disgrace that Apple selected to spend tens of hundreds of {dollars} to pay a 3rd get together, exterior ‘union avoidance’ legislation agency, abandon its professed values, and aggressively and deceitfully union bust in our retailer, interfering with our authorized proper to arrange a union,” the message continued.
It mentioned that the Atlanta retailer organizers will “reset” and can work with different shops to arrange them for future union drives.
Staff on the Atlanta retailer filed for a union drive in April, when organizers mentioned that over 70% of the shops workers signed playing cards signaling curiosity in unionizing with CWA.
Since then, Apple has confronted accusations that it’s deploying anti-union techniques that break labor legal guidelines. The CWA mentioned in a unfair labor apply submitting earlier this month that mentioned that managers on the retailer held “captive viewers conferences,” the place staff are required to attend conferences that embrace company anti-union speaking factors.
Earlier this week, Apple’s head of retail and HR mentioned in a part of a video distributed internally that she believed that unions would make it more durable for Apple managers to answer worker considerations, and that unions aren’t dedicated to its workers.
The Cumberland Mall organizers are asking for extra extra transparency in how they’re paid, a dedication to variety in administration, and elevated Covid security measures for workers.
“”We’re lucky to have unimaginable retail workforce members and we deeply worth every thing they bring about to Apple,” an Apple consultant mentioned, saying that the corporate gives sturdy compensation and advantages.
Earlier this week, Apple introduced that it was growing beginning pay for retail workers to $22 per hour. Within the message to coworkers, the Cumberland Mall organizing committee mentioned that the unplanned raises have been a direct results of its organizing drive.
“Because of what we began right here in Atlanta, Apple can be giving all workers in all shops an unplanned elevate. That is due to us,” the organizing committee mentioned in its observe.
Atlanta, GA
Falcons Risers, Fallers: Buy Stock in Michael Penix Jr. After Win vs. Giants
ATLANTA — After falling behind by a touchdown early in the second quarter, the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) scored 34 unanswered points to close out Sunday’s 34-7 victory over the New York Giants (2-13) inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta has eclipsed seven wins for the first time since 2017, and it now enters the final two games of the regular season with a shot at the postseason — and with a jolt of energy from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Here’s who’s rising and falling after the Falcons’ victory …
QB Michael Penix Jr.
The consensus from Atlanta’s side postgame on Penix: He played well.
Rookie quarterbacks can go either way in their debut. Penix was solid, completing 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and an interception that bounced out of tight end Kyle Pitts’ hands and into the arms of Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.
Consider Sunday a success for Penix, who provided no reason to stop dreaming.
OLB Matt Judon
Judon’s season overall hasn’t been what many expected when Atlanta sent a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for his services in August, but he’s turned a corner lately — and played his best game of the season Sunday.
The 32-year-old Judon collected one sack, two quarterback hits, a pass deflection and returned an interception 27 yards to the endzone for his first career touchdown.
Judon wore plenty of blame when he was struggling. He deserves similarly strong credit when he plays at the level he did Sunday.
ILB Kaden Elliss
Elliss is the only player in the NFL with a sack in each of the last four consecutive weeks, according to the Falcons’ communication staff. He was excellent Sunday, logging a team-high seven tackles and two quarterback hits.
The 6’2″, 238-pound Elliss notched one sack — a forced fumble that was recovered by outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and gave Atlanta’s offense the ball in plus-territory.
Since inserting Elliss into the pass rushing plan more frequently, the Falcons’ pass rush — and defense as a whole — has made considerable strides.
TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts was targeted only twice — one went for seven yards, and the other led to Penix’s interception on a pass that hit his hands.
After a four-catch game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, Pitts failed to carry that production back home. He now has one or fewer receptions in four of the Falcons’ last five games and five of their last seven.
Evidently, Pitts’ minimal production since the calendar flipped to November wasn’t solely due to quarterback Kirk Cousins.
There really isn’t much to complain about regarding Atlanta’s performance. Perhaps a slow start? A missed field goal from kicker Riley Patterson, who responded by making his other two field goals and all four extra points?
For the first time this season, there’s only one faller.
The Falcons return to action at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, against the Washington Commanders inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons inactives for Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants
ATLANTA — After listing outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge as questionable on Friday’s game report, the Falcons made a final decision on the two prior to Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Both were given the all-clear after working through injuries this week. Carter was listed on the injury report as having a groin injury, while Hodge was listed as having a ribs injury.
Because of Hodge’s active status, the Falcons decided to keep practice squad receiver Dylan Drummond inactive after using a standard practice squad elevation on him Saturday. On the same day, the Falcons signed fellow receiver Chris Blair to the active roster. So, the Falcons have good depth at receiver heading into Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start.
Here is the full list of Falcons’ inactives for Week 16:
Atlanta, GA
Braves News: Season reviews, Rickey Henderson, hot stove, more
The offseason continues to move on as the Braves stay quiet for now. Today was the flurry of first base movement, which fortunately didn’t impact the Braves, who have no opening at first base or designated hitter. It is hard not to get antsy watching players move all over the place in the offseason where the Braves opened up a bunch of money to do something but have yet to do anything of note. I do maintain that something (probably multiple things) of note will happen, but it is frustrating to see options dwindle and players move. All of that said, my preference coming into the offseason was signing Ha-Seong Kim, a viable starter, and a viable outfielder. I have begun to suspect that a trade is going to be the pathway to at least one of those holes and Kim is still out there. Time will tell and all we can do is try to remain patient. Plenty of time remains before Spring Training and the season begin.
Braves News
Demetrius reviewed Austin Riley’s rollercoaster of a 2024 season, that featured underperformance, quality production, and injury at various times.
Gaurav took a look at prospect Mitch Farris’ impressive 2024 season, as the 13th round pick of the Braves’ 2023 draft.
MLB News
Baseball icon and Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 65.
Cleveland traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the D-Backs for pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance round B pick.
The Guardians signed Carlos Santana, just after dumping a different first baseman in Naylor to Arizona.
Negotiations between the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernandez do not appear to be moving and the Dodgers are reportedly looking into alternatives.
The Yankees signed former MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one year deal worth $12.5 million to fill their hole at first base.
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