French Union Calls for Apple Retail Store Employee Strike Coinciding with iPhone 5 Launch

[macidiot]

...and the uninformed come out in force...

Things are different here in western Europe. We pay much higher taxes, everything costs a lot more (search for the price of anything and compare it to what we pay) and we end up with a lot less disposable income when compared to a similar job in the US.

As a result of this, we expect a fair trade-off in working conditions.

So yes, some of these things might sound crazy to you guys, but you need to compare it in context.

Yes, and for those taxes, you get free health care, free education, heavy retirement benefits, affordable and useful public transportation, and a spotlessly clean city (in Paris). Along with working far far less than an American. Americans feel guilty if they take 2 weeks vacation in a year. We laugh at the idea of getting the 6 weeks or whatever that people get in Europe.

Prices for goods are high in France and Europe because of the VAT tax.

Cry me a river. Tell an American Apple store employee you deserve 13 months pay and free meals when they have to cough up $100k+ to send one child to college. Along with the $4k+/year for family health insurance.

 

[nick_elt]

I'm calling ******** on that. Last two years we didn't have any major strike and whenever is one I can guarantee you that most people understand it and support it. At least I live in a city where transportation is affordable, with a really extensive metro line and bus services that have discounts for students, the elderly and almost anyone that needs it. It could be better, yes, of course, like everything. You are just stereotyping.

Lighten up, anyway i have been to Paris 5 times (2004 - 2008) and twice i was effected by strikes and my godmother that lives there said it happened quite regularly. So I was stereotyping based on my experiences.

 

[SuperPuppy]

Cry me a river. Tell an American Apple store employee you deserve 13 months pay and free meals when they have to cough up $100k+ to send one child to college. Along with the $4k+/year for family health insurance.

Tell me about it. Last time I looked, it was more like 200k+ for college and 7k+ for health insurance for a family (and that's when the company was partially subsidizing it).

 

[macidiot]

The entire country does share some of Apple's success. Hello, 30% sales tax? Income tax? Property tax?

Not trying to defend Mitt Romney as a presidential candidate, but he did not start out with a company or hedge fund. I always hear that he was born rich, but his biography on Wikipedia contradicts that.

His father was the CEO of American Motors. It went bankrupt (well, Jeep survived), but long after he left. But I am sure he was well compensated as a CEO of an auto manufacturer.

Mitt's father was also the Governor of Michigan.

So yes, unless his parents pissed all their money away, Romney was born filthy rich. I've never heard of a CEO and former Governor being broke.

Obviously wikipedia has been manipulated by biased parties if it says otherwise.

 

[unlinked]

Didn't the US win on the Asian front of WWII without assistance?

... we probably had help on the Manhattan project though, so maybe that front doesn't count, given how much uglier it probably would have gotten without dropping atom bombs...

I'm sure the Australians would beg to differ. Possibly even the Chinese but a lot of people don't seem to include them in WW2 because their war with Japan predates WW2 (or marks the real start).

 

[faroZ06]

His father was the CEO of American Motors. It went bankrupt (well, Jeep survived), but long after he left. But I am sure he was well compensated as a CEO of an auto manufacturer.

Mitt's father was also the Governor of Michigan.

So yes, unless his parents **** all their money away, Romney was born filthy rich. I've never heard of a CEO and former Governor being broke.

Obviously wikipedia has been manipulated by biased parties if it says otherwise.

His father was the president (not CEO) of American Motors after Mitt was born. Mitt Romney attended public elementary school. I'd say he was in a fairly wealthy family, but not "filthy rich".

Needless to say, it's not like he became personally super-rich overnight, and his business career is separate from American Motors. He was a successful businessman. Nothing to be ashamed of there... there.

 

[divinox]

If only these trust-fund kids knew what real world work was.

why would trust-fund kids work at an apple store?

 

[faroZ06]

...and the uninformed come out in force...

Things are different here in western Europe. We pay much higher taxes, everything costs a lot more (search for the price of anything and compare it to what we pay) and we end up with a lot less disposable income when compared to a similar job in the US.

As a result of this, we expect a fair trade-off in working conditions.

So yes, some of these things might sound crazy to you guys, but you need to compare it in context.

The socialist policies give you a lot of the money back in services and such. The problem is that there is always wasted money in the process, so I don't like the idea of "put a lot in and get a lot out" simply because of that.

Oh, and the French food is cheaper and better quality than in the USA. Man, I hate American bread.

 

[divinox]

Yes, and for those taxes, you get free health care, free education, heavy retirement benefits, affordable and useful public transportation, and a spotlessly clean city (in Paris). Along with working far far less than an American. Americans feel guilty if they take 2 weeks vacation in a year. We laugh at the idea of getting the 6 weeks or whatever that people get in Europe.

Prices for goods are high in France and Europe because of the VAT tax.

Cry me a river. Tell an American Apple store employee you deserve 13 months pay and free meals when they have to cough up $100k+ to send one child to college. Along with the $4k+/year for family health insurance.

If you had been more like the french, perhaps you would've had that extra pay, free meals and cheaper tuition. Just saying.

 

[faroZ06]

why would trust-fund kids work at an apple store?

I've been to an Apple store many times. Most of the people there are very young compared to the average US citizen.

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If you had been more like the french, perhaps you would've had that extra pay, free meals and cheaper tuition. Just saying.

At the cost of weaker corporations and higher taxes, it's just not worth it. There's too much waste, too much overhead. The government agencies waste money like they have a blank check... which they kinda do. Government wants to put a gate into an American neighborhood street to block traffic and make it safer (for example)? That's going to cost $90K... for a metal gate. It's literally just two metal poles welded onto one going into the ground. It would cost me only a couple hundred dollars to do that.

 

[North Bronson]

I suppose it is a credit to "the 1%" that they have conditioned you all through propagana to actually cry out in anger/disgust when workers demand more fair compensation. As American corporations continue to profit off the backs of workers, we are exporting our working conditions to Europe, where workers traditionally enjoyed more vacation time and better benefits than our American corporate masters allow us.

WHY wouldn't you instead ask why YOU don't get an extra thirteenth month of pay? As the most valuable company in the world, with over a hundred billion in cash and billions more in profits rolling in, why not share that success with employees?

Simple. Because it would reduce the amount available for the billionaire executives! You all get what you deserve.

(BTW I love Apple products, and I don't single out Apple - corporate avarus abounds)

http://allthingsd.com/20120803/apples-scott-forstall-on-how-project-purple-turned-into-the-iphone/

"You are going to have to give up nights and weekends probably for a couple years."

The reason the Apple is the most valuable company in the world, with over a hundred billion in cash and billions more in profits rolling in is because the OS developers and hardware engineers spent years NOT taking vacations to finish the iPhone. Why is it fair that retail workers should receive an extra paid vacation simply because the company is successful, especially when that success is because of a small subset of Apple employees that refused to take any vacation?

 

[Glassed Silver]

what a joke.

unions + european "benefits" explain why nothing excellent ever gets done on that side of the world.

LOL... riiiiight...

Must be cool to be your boss' little dog barking according to his will.

Now some of the complaints (drinking fountain for example) are just hilarious to strike on such a busy day...

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[DVD9]

Hahahaha, 13th month of pay, water fountains, and free food eh? It sounds like things are pretty rough over there.

Or pretty bad over here.

Go talk to an American on the sidewalk or existing in a tent.

 

[divinox]

I've been to an Apple store many times. Most of the people there are very young compared to the average US citizen.

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At the cost of weaker corporations and higher taxes, it's just not worth it. There's too much waste, too much overhead. The government agencies waste money like they have a blank check... which they kinda do. Government wants to put a gate into an American neighborhood street to block traffic and make it safer (for example)? That's going to cost $90K... for a metal gate. It's literally just two metal poles welded onto one going into the ground. It would cost me only a couple hundred dollars to do that.

1.

Being young equals being a trust-fund kid these days?

2.

Yeah. America is really thriving these days. I'll give you that. I envy your strong corporations, low taxes and education bub... err, investments! It really looks like its worth it. It really does! Not the least when looking at your national debt.

P.S. Forward my thanks to the FED for printing all that money. Makes me feel a whole lot richer at your expense!

 

[charlituna]

guys,


as for meal vouchers... Opera and Louvre are locating in very expensive tourist locations of Paris

Then brown bag it. Just like every other store's employees.

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I would fire every last person who didn't show for a product launch.

Depending on the local laws that could be exactly what happens. Depends a lot on whether this is a real union or another trumped up on like that guy in San Francisco is running.

 

[faroZ06]

Yeah. America is really thriving these days. I'll give you that. I envy your strong corporations, low taxes and education bub... err, investments! It really looks like its worth it. It really does! Not the least when looking at your national debt.

P.S. Forward my thanks to the FED for printing all that money. Makes me feel a whole lot richer at your expense!

GDP per capita (nominal) in France: $44,008
GDP per capita (nominal) in USA: $48,387

GDP per capita (PPP) in France: 35,194 intl$
GDP per capita (PPP) in USA: 48,442 intl$

Also, by "strong corporations", do you mean "rich corporations"? Like Apple, Microsoft, and Google? Those companies whose stocks dip whenever European countries have banking and debt issues?

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I would fire every last person who didn't show for a product launch.

Hey, people who don't work have rights!

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they're **** off with the ios6 maps too..

This is a much better reason to go on strike.

 

[Dobbs2]

What a fascist comment you just made. Learn your facts before stating stupid facts like that one. At least we don't need to take a bank loan to go to college. Good luck paying for your mediocre education back on your precarious salary in free market democratic America. Oh the irony.

I worked all through College. I've never taken a loan. I paid in cash every semester. Its called being held accountable for your actions. I was responsible. I have a Bachelor's in Int'l Business Administration. I have an Associate's in Radiology. I'm still in school finishing up a Bachelor's in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (a continuation of my Associate's). I'm 26. I am debt free except my mortgage. I own a house on an acre of land and I have guns (I like to hunt). I think I'm doing quite well. I'm still in school with two semesters left. I work full time and I still have to take clinicals every week. I'm married to an RN. I work hard now so I can enjoy my time later. You can achieve things through hard work, not by living above your means and being lazy.

 

[burgundyyears]

Or pretty bad over here.

Go talk to an American on the sidewalk or existing in a tent.

Eh, youth unemployment is close to 25% in France, so I think there are plenty of kids at loose ends over there on the proverbial sidewalk. Not quite the society-destabilizing 50% in Greece or Spain, but still, pretty bad.

 

[Joe-Diver]

Unfortunately Dobbs, fine young people like you are very far and few between these days. This is the generation of entitlement, gimmie gimmie gimmie, you owe me, the government owes me, I don't want to work or do anything, just give it to me. If I do work, I should be paid a ridiculous salary because I'm working, not because I'm skilled. It sickens me and these worthless d-bags are going to re-elect the biggest enabler in history.

I worked all through College. I've never taken a loan. I paid in cash every semester. Its called being held accountable for your actions. I was responsible. I have a Bachelor's in Int'l Business Administration. I have an Associate's in Radiology. I'm still in school finishing up a Bachelor's in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (a continuation of my Associate's). I'm 26. I am debt free except my mortgage. I own a house on an acre of land and I have guns (I like to hunt). I think I'm doing quite well. I'm still in school with two semesters left. I work full time and I still have to take clinicals every week. I'm married to an RN. I work hard now so I can enjoy my time later. You can achieve things through hard work, not by living above your means and being lazy.

PS- kudos to you for working hard, being responsible, and setting a fine example. Wish there were more like you.

 

[charlituna]

Dear Americans ridiculing the 13th month of pay,

Do you get a bonus at the end of the year? Yes? Well that's your 13th month of pay.

Nope we don't. Not for non management retail positions like these folks are doing.

We also don't get fully paid health care, and in many cases no sick leave or vacation pay and many of the other perks that other countries laws require.

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Many parts of Europe have legislated that as part of their labor law. If you work certain number of hours, your employer must either provide free food (and yes, there are laws in countries that specify what type, temperature, etc) or as an alternative, provide meal vouchers.

Is that the law in France. It seems not since all the comments have been that they want the vouchers because 'food shops around the stores are really expensive and McDonald's gets old when you eat it every day' type comments

If it's not the law then there's no grounds to demand it as if Apple is doing something wrong.

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They get 25% + $500 off Macs and 25% + $250 off iPads, then complain about not getting free meal tickets?

not a fair comment since that $500 and $250 is only once every 3 years and only one of them (use the $250 for an ipad and you have to wait 3 years to use the $500 on a computer)

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If Apple cant comply with French law,

And exactly what laws are they not complying with. You seem to know the details to make such a comment so spell it out for us idiots.

 

[scoobydoo99]

Yes, it's those Evil One-Percenters (one of which I am not, unfortunately) keeping a brother down by refusing to pay him for a 13th month.

America: the newest entitlement country.

Which is a better example of "entitlement mentality".... a retail worker asking for an extra couple thousand dollars, or Tim Cook taking compensation of $378M in 2011?

Yes, the apologists for our American corporate elite will say he "deserves" it. But. Seriously.

(And "the 1%" is really a misnomer. As of 2011, it only took income of $506K to make it into the 1%. I am really talking about perhaps the top 1/10% that are taking a grotesquely disporportionate share of wealth in this country)

 

[burgundyyears]

Which is a better example of "entitlement mentality".... a retail worker asking for an extra couple thousand dollars, or Tim Cook taking compensation of $378M in 2011?

Yes, the apologists for our American corporate elite will say he "deserves" it. But. Seriously.

(And "the 1%" is really a misnomer. As of 2011, it only took income of $506K to make it into the 1%. I am really talking about perhaps the top 1/10% that are taking a grotesquely disporportionate share of wealth in this country)

It has nothing to do with "deserve." It has everything to do with what I can only presume was non-coercively negotiated between him and the Apple BoD. That's all that really matters from a market perspective.

As for him "taking" wealth, well, he heads up one of the biggest wealth generators in the U.S., so I don't quite understand what point you're driving at there.

 

[Ping Guo]

what a joke.

unions + european "benefits" explain why nothing excellent ever gets done on that side of the world.

Love all the ignoramuses coming out of the woodwork.

Nothing excellent? Except the Statue of Liberty, laws of thermodynamics, the diesel engine, gyroscope, stethoscope, braille, pasteurization, the parachute, the bikini!

Check out the Millau Viaduct, the world's tallest bridge completed in 2004. When's the last time the US built anything on that scale? *cue crickets*

Not to mention major contributions to western culture from French philosophers, writers, and artists. Descartes, Sartre, Rousseau, Robespierre, Simone de Beauvoir, Victor Hugo, Albert Camus, Balzac, etc...

I spend time in France every year, and lived there for 3 years previously. The quality of life for the average person is much better than in the US. They actually spend money on infrastructure and the cities and towns are beautiful with excellent public transport. Do they love going on strike? Hell yes they do! It's part of their culture, they're not a bunch of obese mouth breathers being manipulated by the MSM, corporate apologists or armchair Libertarians who think big 'gummint is the root of all that's wrong in their lives.

 

[GoldenJoe]

No it doesn't and don't talk if you don't know. many of the benefits you receive today is because of unions.

No, the benefits I receive today are from doing excellent work and therefore fetching a high market value for my services. I didn't form a mob with my fellow employees to threaten my benefits out of my employer. I EARNED them. Imagine that!

 

[GoldenJoe]

Which is a better example of "entitlement mentality".... a retail worker asking for an extra couple thousand dollars, or Tim Cook taking compensation of $378M in 2011?

Yes, the apologists for our American corporate elite will say he "deserves" it. But. Seriously.

(And "the 1%" is really a misnomer. As of 2011, it only took income of $506K to make it into the 1%. I am really talking about perhaps the top 1/10% that are taking a grotesquely disporportionate share of wealth in this country)

I can explain the difference.

Someone who receives an "entitlement" is enjoying a resource or benefit that they did not actually earn. Instead, it was taken from someone else by force, and given to them.

Someone like Tim Cook, on the other hand, is compensated based on his market value. The reason he can fetch $300M+ is because he has managed Apple so that it has increased its market value by 140 BILLION since he took his current position. You aren't worth 300M because you can't do Tim Cook's job. He doesn't make that money just for showing up. He makes it for getting big results. If Apple does not compensate him sufficiently (his market value), they would risk losing him to another company.

For all the talk I hear about evil overpaid corporate executives, I have never once heard an accusation that professional athletes or entertainers are greedy, corrupt, and overpaid, even though their contracts work the exact same way, and are often in excess of tens of millions of dollars. Get over the pathetic jealousy you have towards these individuals, as well as that self-destructive sense of entitlement. You deserve what you earn. Nothing more.