Apple faces $1m declare over iPhone 18 roster adjustments in Adelaide

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) has lodged a $1m declare towards Apple over the current launch of its new iPhone 18.

The union claims the tech big breached phrases of enterprise settlement at its Rundle Place department, in Adelaide’s CBD.

It is alleged the shop made adjustments to its working roster to accommodate the brand new product launch with out enough discover to staff.

The SDA additional alleges that the cellphone launch was not the primary time this has occurred to staff – neither is it a difficulty unique to its Adelaide department.

In claims filed with the South Australian Employment Tribunal, the union alleges that Apple had instructed staff shifts may change within the weeks earlier than and after the product’s September 18 launch, and that it didn’t point out the necessity for settlement to do that.

Apple, nonetheless, has rejected this, with a spokesman telling NewsWire it didn’t agree with the declare.

It is known that Apple will argue that each one workforce members on the department have been consulted and given the chance to work their authentic schedules earlier than roster adjustments have been made.

The company may also argue that no workforce member labored a modified shift with out settlement.

The SDA, nonetheless, argues that the adjustments made have been in breach of prior agreements – which had occurred on a couple of event.

Jordan Mumford, assistant secretary of the SDA in South Australia stated late roster adjustments have “real consequences” for staff.

“A decision in Silicon Valley to launch a new phone does not give Apple the right to disrupt the lives of Australian workers,” he stated.

“A roster is much more than just a work schedule – it is how workers organise childcare, family responsibilities, study, medical appointments and second jobs.

“When an employer changes workers’ hours without agreement, it has real consequences.”

He added that submitting the declare aimed to “send a clear message” to different employers, alleging the identical factor occurred in 2025 throughout a earlier product launch.

“Apple has the right to ask workers to change their hours to support a major event,” he stated.

“What it cannot do is dictate these changes and leave workers to deal with the fallout.

“Apple cannot choose to ignore the terms of its agreement when it is inconvenient for them.”