Workers on the Penn Square Apple Store in Oklahoma City have filed with the National Labor Relations Board to carry a union election, changing into the third US location to have finished so. According to a press launch, over 70 % of the shop’s salespeople, genius admins, technicians, creatives, and operations specialists, have signed playing cards to say they’re serious about being represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

The NLRB’s bar for a ample displaying of curiosity for an election is 30 % of staff signing union playing cards.

The submitting was reported beforehand by Bloomberg, and the outlet writes that Michael Forsythe, an worker and organizer on the Oklahoma City retailer, stated staff are in search of “more transparency and input on issues like safety, scheduling and pay.”

There has been one profitable union drive at Apple’s US retail shops — in June, staff at Apple’s Towson Town Center retailer in Maryland voted to unionize. Campaigns at different shops, similar to one in New York City (which additionally hopes to prepare with the CWA), and one other in Louisville, Kentucky haven’t gotten to the purpose of holding an election. There was an election scheduled in Atlanta, however the CWA referred to as it off, saying it could be unattainable to carry a good election due to Apple’s “repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act.”

Earlier this yr, Apple’s vice chairman of individuals and retail Deirdre O’Brien tried to persuade staff to not unionize, saying that doing so would “put another organization in the middle of our relationship,” one which “does not have a deep understanding of Apple or our business.” (Organizers in Maryland had been largely staff of the Apple Store, although the union did work with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.) The firm has additionally been accused of union busting by way of captive viewers conferences, and by not permitting staff to put up union flyers.

Apple additionally addressed a serious criticism from some staff: cash. In May, the corporate bumped up the beginning hourly wages at its retail shops, from $20 to $22.

Given Apple’s obvious efforts in opposition to unionization, and the dearth of elections or different public union actions, it was straightforward to imagine that the marketing campaign to unionize the corporate’s retail areas had deflated. However, consultants have informed The Verge that fast-moving campaigns, just like the one to prepare Starbucks, aren’t the norm and that it could take years or set up a location. In different phrases, it wasn’t out of the extraordinary that there wasn’t information popping out of New York or Atlanta day by day. Organizers at Towson Town Center additionally talked about that they’ve been listening to from individuals at different shops, who had been quietly making an attempt to prepare their very own campaigns.

The marketing campaign in Oklahoma City reinforces the concept union campaigns haven’t gone away at Apple. Now that the petition is filed, the NLRB must certify that there’s been a ample displaying of curiosity. If it determines there may be, Apple and organizers can come to an settlement on learn how to maintain the election (which occurred in Atlanta), or the NLRB can maintain a listening to and situation a choice on how the election will happen.

Reached for remark, Apple spokesperson Josh Lipton stated that the corporate reiterates its earlier assertion. Earlier this yr, he informed The Verge that Apple is “fortunate to have incredible retail team members and we deeply value everything they bring to Apple. We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full time and part time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits.”