In today’s news and commentary, Wells Fargo employees vote to become the first organized bank employees outside of local branches, workers in Apple stores continue organizing amid unfair labor practice charges against the company, and Boston University graduate student workers consider ratifying a contract that will end their strike.

Wells Fargo employees have filed an unfair labor practice charge against the company, alleging that members of the proposed bargaining unit were targeted for firing ahead of a scheduled vote. The employees, nonbranch-based workers in Wells Fargo’s conduct management intake department, began voting last week on whether to join the Communications Workers of America’s Wells Fargo Workers United. There are 21 unionized Wells Fargo branches around the country, including one in Albuquerque, NM – the first union at a major US bank. If successful, these employees will be the first organized Wells Fargo employees outside of local branches. The company claims that the firing of 11 workers just after the unit notified of its intent to unionize is simply coincidence. Wells Fargo is disputing another 14 open unfair labor practice claims against it. The conduct management department’s vote closes October 31 and results should be available the following day.

Workers at an Apple store in Bethesda, Maryland filed a union election petition last Thursday. Over 70% of the store’s 59 employees have signed union cards, agreeing to be represented by Communications Workers of America. The petition comes just a few weeks after a unionized store in Oklahoma City ratified its first contract, securing wage increases of 11.5%. Apple has seen a wave of unionization across the country and has four unfair labor practice complaints pending before administrative law judges. The most recent, announced last Friday, alleges that the company unlawfully fired an employee at its Cupertino, California headquarters for pushing for workplace changes in the company Slack. That case is expected to be heard on February 25, 2025, if settlement is not reached prior.

Graduate student workers at Boston University agree to put the university’s last three-year contract offer to a ratification vote. The workers, organized with SEIU, began negotiating a new contract in July 2023. Some members walked out on strike this March, demanding more movement from the university on issues such as stipends and benefits. The current offer includes annual stipend increases of 3%, a minimum 12-month stipend of $45,000 to all PhD students, an increase from 8 to 14 weeks, in paid childcare leave, transportation and dental benefits, and more. The contract significantly increases the pay of non-STEM student workers and PhD students on 8-month, as opposed to full year, contracts. Student workers have until October 16 to cast their ratification vote.