Former Apple employee isn’t withdrawing labor complaint

Cher Scarlett, a former Apple engineer, is not withdrawing her complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Forbes reported.

Scarlett filed a complaint with the NLRB in September alleging Apple had violated the federal National Labor Relations Act. Scarlett had led a pay equity and transparency effort inside Apple.

When Scarlett quit in November, she reportedly reached a private settlement with Apple and part of the agreement stipulated that she withdraw her complaint in order to receive a one-year severance package. In return, Apple would acknowledge their employees’ rights to discuss their salaries, according to Forbes.

In an interview with The Hill, Scarlett stated that the NLRB had rejected her request to withdraw the complaint as Apple had not made the changes that had been agreed upon. 

“One of the requests I made was for there to be a very public, visible affirmation that employees are allowed to discuss their workplace conditions and compensation, both internally and externally,” Scarlett told Forbes.

According to Scarlett, Apple published language acknowledging their employees’ right to discuss their salaries on Nov. 19, the Friday before the company’s Thanksgiving vacation. The information was then taken down following Monday when most people returned to work.

The Hill has reached out to the NLRB, Apple and Scarlett’s attorney for comment.

This past summer, Scarlett spearheaded the #AppleToo movement in which more than 500 employees shared their experiences of racism, sexism and harassment while working for the company.

Apple is currently facing another NLRB complaint from another employee who was fired in October. In her complaint, Janneke Parrish, who expressed her support for Scarlett, said she was fired after organizing a campaign to address workplace concerns.

Updated Dec. 11, 10:54 a.m.