Graham
Daniel JalkutApple should come out in solidarity with SAG/AFTRA. They have enough money to rise above the fray and do what is right: defend the rights of writers and actors, without whom the whole entertainment industry collapses.
I’ve seen some skepticism, and even ridicule over my proposal, but I think this would be a tactical win for Apple. Standing up for the core talent of the industry would be a sure way to attract the best for future shows.
Anil Dash@danielpunkass it’s not even that wild — no less an aggressive company than Microsoft essentially said they weren’t gonna fight unionization for creatives in their game studios. Apple has more fear because of their retail stores, but it’s coming either way, so they should be smart.
Heath Borders@danielpunkass I also hope they do this, but I feel very sure they won't. Apple colluded with Google to suppress developer wages. Surely they'll also collude with other studios to suppress actor wages.
Steffen Christensen@heathborders @danielpunkass Also with the free money ride over on Wall Street, tech actually has to work for dollars now, and they aren't magically flush with cash forever. This stance would threaten another potential free money fountain of theirs, so they probably won't do it, despite their history.
Pär Björklund@danielpunkass I guess in theory they could donate a truckload to the strike fund. Any increase in costs for Netflix by better contracts would be a win for Apple that has plenty to subsidize their shows.
Afaik apple hates unions as much as every other tech company
Emma Builds 🚀@danielpunkass you think a bunch of billionaire garbage care if the industry collapses?
They don't. Tim Cook is not our friend. He's as much a fascist as the rest.
@emmah I don't think he's "our friend", per se, but Apple doesn't have the same priorities as other entertainment conglomerates, and sometimes they flex their muscle in usual ways.
@danielpunkass keep thinking that, you'll be disappointed. The rich are the enemy.
@emmah Your discourse is not constructive.
@danielpunkass thinking that Apple cares about actual humans isn't discourse.
BlueintheSouth@emmah @danielpunkass maybe they'll put out some nets
Michael Kranz@emmah @danielpunkass I mean, it could be that you’re both right. This would be a good strategic move for Apple’s burgeoning media wing. It’s also vanishingly unlikely because of the class identification of Apple executives (and their clear track record as regards labor exploitation)
@mkranz what is the move here? Trying to sign a one-off contracts with both WGA and SAG-AFTRA?
@emmah …which may not even be *possible* given that Apple is an AMPTP member, so the move would also involve burning a lot of bridges. It would be nice PR (and ethical), but would also probably mean Apple would be blacklisted at award shows, in industry mags, by certain vendors, etc etc etc. great point
Timothy Swan@emmah @danielpunkass And with Emma’s ignorant comment I’m out of this thread. What a reductionist way of thinking about the complex world.
@timswan you're fucking funny.
Paul DeLeeuw@danielpunkass I would be pleasantly surprised if they did this. I agree with you completely, but everything I’ve heard about their own internal efforts to prevent unionization tells me they don’t have the right mindset.
The most Apple thing they can do is say nothing. Keep all discussions behind closed doors, and don’t venture publicly into anything remotely political without very, very strong internal support.
Joseph Kohlmann@danielpunkass Apple’s got their own dedicated union busting campaign going already: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-12/apple-store-union-accuses-company-of-negotiating-in-bad-faith
@danielpunkass …and that’s in addition to their position on the #WGAStrike: https://social.coolsma.com/@chantal/110712287765483459
Chantal Coolsma (@[email protected])
Attached: 1 video Ouch. Come on #Apple, do better! #WritersStrike
Michael Critz@danielpunkass I want them to. But I think Apple has its own labor issues.
It’s pretty rare for a corp to signal solidarity with workers.
@pixelscience It is. I’m a dreamer and an activist.
whereisk@danielpunkass
But do they want a fight with the biggest rights holders?..
But do they want a fight with the biggest rights holders?..
Jon_Alper@danielpunkass It sure would give them the pick of the litter when the dust settles but…Risky.
Robert M@danielpunkass Just mentioned this in another post. Considering how long Apple has continued to advertise on #fascist Elon Musk's #Twitter they've already lost any of my future business.
There's others of course. I just thought Apple might be better. They're not.
Joe ❌👑@danielpunkass The problem with publicly traded companies is that none of them think they have enough money. Apple is no better than the others.
Carmine Granucci@danielpunkass You're talking about Apple? The same company that exploits labor overseas to build their products? 🤔
KraigYes. Yes. Yes. 1000x this. Easy easy easy way to do the right thing *and* punish competitors. 👍👍👍
steve mookie kong@danielpunkass Why just picking out Apple (who themselves are pretty staunchly anti-union)? The studios and other streaming services are raking in billions, they can afford to pay writers and actors what they’re due also.
@mookie the main reason is because Apple’s profits and riches are disproportionally derived from other sources.
@danielpunkass I see where you’re coming from. If that’s the case, why. It add Amazon to the list of companies disproportionally making money from other sources too?
I’m more simple. If a company is making money off the backs of the actors and writers, they should pay what’s right.
@mookie Yeah Amazon is another example of a company that could easily make this calculated move.
@danielpunkass And just like how Apple is anti-union, Amazon is also anti-union.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/business/economy/amazon-union-staten-island-nlrb.html
bitmover@danielpunkass plus I’d like to think Apple would support the creatives that have been a core customer for ages.
ShadSterling@danielpunkass why Apple and not Netflix or Hulu or Disney or Discovery or Paramount or Amazon? They’ve all got more than enough money, and a business interest in coming out looking like the good guys. Why should Apple more than the others?
bjarratt@danielpunkass not going to happen. they already joined AMPTP. they (and Netflix) could have kept their leverage on the legacy studios, but they weren’t interested in negotiating CBAs and joined the club instead.
Ian McKellar@danielpunkass @anildash
I'd love to see them change their tune on employee rights to organize but between their treatment of store employees, workers at the subcontractors and even software engineers like Cher Scarlett I feel like their approach has been consistent and awful.
I'd love to see them change their tune on employee rights to organize but between their treatment of store employees, workers at the subcontractors and even software engineers like Cher Scarlett I feel like their approach has been consistent and awful.
Ellen Shapiro@danielpunkass I’m pretty sure given their union busting in their stores they’re one of the ones telling everyone to hold the line
Ellen Teapot 🇨🇦🏳️⚧️@danielpunkass @mikec415 See also: with our own retail workers
Dan JonesAnd Meta should stop selling everybody's data. And Twitter should stop giving bigots free reign.
Lots of companies should do a lot of things, but only will if it helps their bottom line.
@danjones000 I did add an assertion of how I think it would help Apple's bottom line.
Yes, I saw. Still find it laughable. I don't need to repeat why. Lots of other people have chimed in in the comments already.
@danjones000 You certainly don’t.
Ron Gilbert (GrumpyGamer)@danielpunkass And why would they do this when they are screwing over every developer on the App Store.
Brian Grinter@grumpygamer @danielpunkass aren’t most shows commissioned with other studios too?
Shrinking is done by Warner Bros and For All Mankind is Sony Pictures
@danielpunkass I think there is a tactical benefit, but there is also the reality that it will make it easier, or more likely, that an Apple union would form. Apple would look to deny that at any cost, making the cons far outweigh the positives.
Marc Etienne@danielpunkass I agree, because even though Apple is now a studio themselves, their DNA is making tools (hardware, but also software) for creators.
And Apple should be smart enough to realise that unions are partners, not competitors. Treating the workforce like stakeholders and not as a resource or cost factor goes a long, long way.
True Thomas@danielpunkass @anildash It's 2042. The brands announce a general strike. Tim Cook on the roof of the mall with a sniper rifle waiting for the scabs to show up and try to buy iPhones. Billy Bragg playing in his Airpods.
Gojira1000@danielpunkass If you're waiting for a corporation to do something ethical in opposition to something profitable, you're going to be waiting a long time.
Nick Vance@danielpunkass I agree that it would be great if they did do this. But it doesn't seem likely after they spent the last few years bashing unions (largely trying to stop their store workers from unionizing). Just one example, but there are many: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/11/02/towson-union-labor-board-benefit-complaint/
Ian Robinson@danielpunkass @joshbuchea They can’t as members of AMPTP. And the people running Apple Studios and AppleTV+ are all drawn from the industry management circles.
Robert@danielpunkass should, sure. But we’re talking about a company which was found to engage in illegal union busting among its own employees, and hired the same union busting law firm that Amazon and Starbucks use. Tim Cook isn’t a friend to organized labor. #unionizedifferent #apple #labor #sagaftra #unionbusting #organizedlabor