In a rather unusual turn of events, the National Labor Relations Board has suspended two cases against Apple following the nomination of one of the company’s defense lawyers as the new head of the agency.
The NLRB was scheduled to address cases claiming that Apple unjustly terminated two organizers involved in the #AppleToo initiative, but both cases have been “postponed indefinitely” just days after Crystal Carey was nominated to lead the organization.
The NLRB Cases Against Apple
In 2021, approximately 2,000 Apple employees participated in an unofficial salary survey that revealed a disparity in pay between male and female workers. This survey sparked the #AppleToo movement, with Janneke Parrish and Cher Scarlett taking on prominent roles.
The survey’s conclusions prompted around 12,000 current and former female employees to file a class action lawsuit against Apple. Earlier this year, a judge determined there was a “reasonable possibility” that Apple had indeed paid women less than men, allowing the case to advance.
Both Parrish and Scarlett eventually departed from the company and lodged claims with the NLRB, alleging that Apple wrongfully terminated them for their organizing efforts. The first of these cases was set to be heard this month.
The NLRB has also pursued separate allegations against Apple regarding unlawful anti-union activities.
Cases Frozen Following Nomination of Former Defense Lawyer
The Financial Times reports that Trump nominated Crystal Carey to head the NLRB, and shortly thereafter, two cases against Apple were suspended.
Last year, the National Labor Relations Board filed various complaints against Apple, alleging it obstructed employee attempts to organize. However, it abruptly withdrew from two of these cases late last week, as per documents reviewed by the Financial Times.
Trump recently nominated Crystal Carey, a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, to serve as the NLRB’s general counsel. She is noted in the agency’s records as the attorney representing Apple in both cases against the tech giant.
The two suspended cases pertain to Parrish and Scarlett.
Hearings before an administrative law judge had been slated for April and June regarding Parrish and Scarlett’s cases, respectively. But last week, the NLRB notified them that the trials would be indefinitely postponed pending a legal review by the agency’s headquarters.
The FT mentions that Apple has yet to comment on this recent development. Carey’s appointment will require confirmation from the Senate.
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