Julia Love

SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – Apple (NASDAQ) restricted employee access to Slack in the workplace, limiting workers’ freedom to participate in protected speech, and organizing. This was alleged by a former employee in a Tuesday complaint filed to a U.S. labor regulator.

Apple introduced Slack in 2011 and it has been a popular discussion platform during pandemics, according to multiple employees.

Apple employees that advocate remote work, pay equity and other causes within the company also used it. Apple instituted moderation guidelines for its platform on Oct. 25, according Janneke Parrish’s complaint to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board.

“It gives it the appearance that employees are being monitored for protected speech activity,” stated the complaint. Reuters reviewed a copy.

A spokesperson for Apple declined to comment. Apple previously stated that it doesn’t discuss employee issues but was “deeply committed” to creating and maintaining an inclusive work environment and taking all concerns seriously.

According to Apple, workers can’t create Slack channels without management’s support. The complaint includes screenshots of messages detailing this policy.

According to the complaint all concerns about work must be reported to the manager or to the People Support group.

Parrish claims she was fired from her job in October for playing an important role in employee activism.

It comes amid the wider push for Silicon Valley workers who are concerned about their work conditions and how technology is affecting society. Apple has been especially affected by the employee activism, given its notoriously secretive culture.