The US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) temporarily shelved two high-profile cases against Apple mere days after US President Donald Trump nominated Crystal Carey—a lawyer who once represented the tech company—to be the board's chief legal officer. The last-minute halt in proceedings set tongues wagging about political meddling with the labour watchdog's impartiality and worker protections under the Trump administration, the Financial Times reported.
The nomination and its timing
Crystal Carey, a Morgan Lewis & Bockius partner, is included in NLRB filings as Apple's defence counsel in both of the frozen cases. Trump's announcement last week that he plans to appoint Carey as the agency's general counsel came on the eve of the NLRB's delay of the cases, documents seen by the Financial Times show.
Neither Apple, the NLRB, nor the White House would comment on requests. Morgan Lewis, also representing SpaceX and Amazon in labour matters, would not comment.
The AppleToo movement and the cases
The cases are those of Janneke Parrish and Cher Scarlett, central figures in the 2021 AppleToo movement, which accused Apple of mismanaging workplace harassment and wage discrimination complaints. Both women, after departing Apple, filed NLRB complaints alleging retaliatory dismissal for their labour organising activities.
In 2024, the NLRB supported them with their assertions and issued complaints against Apple for supposedly breaking federal labour laws by interfering with pay negotiations and terminating Scarlett for spearheading work reforms. Apple has refuted the claims and cited its employee rights policies and later lifting of workplace gag orders in 2022.
Hearings delayed without reason
April and June hearings were postponed indefinitely at the end of last week. The two women were notified by the NLRB that their cases would be considered by the board's "division of advice," which usually addresses intricate or case-establishing issues. No new hearing dates were scheduled.
One other complaint filed by Ashley Gjøvik continues to be slated for a hearing in August.
Parrish, in response to the developments, stated Carey's participation creates a chilling effect: "I fear for the future of workers' rights, and for the ability of any worker to get their day in court under this administration."
Wider crackdown on NLRB autonomy
The action is part of a wider remaking of the NLRB during the Trump administration. The president dismissed Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox in February and pushed out
General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo—actions critics argue seek to destabilize the agency's balance and integrity. Wilcox has contested her termination as unconstitutional.
Labour advocates warn that Trump is increasingly politicizing independent agencies, with Carey’s nomination viewed as part of a larger effort to weaken institutional checks on corporate power.
As hearings stall and leadership changes loom, advocates say the NLRB’s ability to protect workers from employer retaliation is being eroded. With a former Apple attorney potentially overseeing its legal direction, labour rights groups fear a growing imbalance in favour of corporate interests.
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