Source : Perth Now news
An Aussie shopworkers’ union is taking on one of the world’s biggest brands over claims it made last minute roster changes during a major product launch.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) has lodged a $1m claim against Apple over the recent launch of its new iPhone 18.
The union claims the tech giant breached terms of enterprise agreement at its Rundle Place branch, in Adelaide’s CBD.
It is alleged the store made changes to its working roster to accommodate the new product launch without sufficient notice to employees.
The SDA further alleges that the phone launch was not the first time this has happened to workers – nor is it an issue exclusive to its Adelaide branch.
In claims filed with the South Australian Employment Tribunal, the union alleges that Apple had told workers shifts could change in the weeks before and after the product’s September 18 launch, and that it did not mention the need for agreement to do this.
Apple, however, has rejected this, with a spokesman telling NewsWire it did not agree with the claim.
It is understood that Apple will argue that all team members at the branch were consulted and given the opportunity to work their original schedules before roster changes were made.
The corporation will also argue that no team member worked a changed shift without agreement.
The SDA, however, argues that the changes made were in breach of prior agreements – which had happened on more than one occasion.
Jordan Mumford, assistant secretary of the SDA in South Australia said late roster changes have “real consequences” for workers.
“A decision in Silicon Valley to launch a new phone does not give Apple the right to disrupt the lives of Australian workers,” he said.
“A roster is much more than just a work schedule – it is how workers organise childcare, family responsibilities, study, medical appointments and second jobs.
“When an employer changes workers’ hours without agreement, it has real consequences.”
He added that filing the claim aimed to “send a clear message” to other employers, alleging the same thing happened in 2025 during a previous product launch.
“Apple has the right to ask workers to change their hours to support a major event,” he said.
“What it cannot do is dictate these changes and leave workers to deal with the fallout.
“Apple cannot choose to ignore the terms of its agreement when it is inconvenient for them.”
