A request for a union election at an Apple Store in Atlanta next week has been withdrawn. The union cited intimidation by Apple that made a fair election impossible, as well as rising COVID cases, which might have impacted turnout. Had the bid been successful, it would have become the first unionized Apple store in the United States.

The Communications Workers of America had scheduled the vote for next week. Its withdrawal is a setback for union activists trying to unionize Apples Stores in the US. There are three other Apple stores presently trying to unionize, in addition to this location in the Cumberland Mall in Atlanta. There will be a vote June 15th by workers looking to unionize at a store in Atlanta.

A CWA representative said in a statement, “An overwhelming majority of the workers at the Cumberland Mall Store announced that they were forming a union in April and requested recognition from the company. Since then, Apple has conducted a systematic, sophisticated campaign to intimidate them and interfere with their right to form a union… [a] behavior [that] violates U.S. law, the principles of Apple’s credo and vendor code of conduct, and international human rights standards. We are not moving forward with the election given what Apple’s response has been and the coercive environment they created. It’s an outrage and a shame that Apple chose to spend tens of thousands of dollars to pay a third party, outside ‘union avoidance’ law firm, abandon its professed values, and aggressively and deceitfully union bust in our store, interfering with our legal right to organize a union.”

In April, over 70% of workers at the Cumberland store signed cards indicating they wished to be represented by the CWA. The workers immediately filed for a union drive. Ever since the CWA has reported that Apple has deployed tactics that violate US labor laws. Earlier this month the CWA filed an unfair labor practice in which they alleged that managers forced workers to attend “captive audience meetings” where they were exposed to corporate anti-union talking points.

Earlier this week Apple stated it was increasing starting pay for retail employees to $22 per hour. The organizers of the Cumberland Mall effort immediately took credit for the raise, saying it was a direct results of their efforts.

In a statement, the organizing committee said “Thanks to what we started here in Atlanta, Apple will be giving all employees in all stores an unplanned raise. This is because of us.”