According to a statement sent to Apple staff on Wednesday, retail employees will see an increase in their hourly compensation.

Apple has begun informing employees that beginning pay for hourly workers will rise to a minimum of $22 per hour, with higher rates in other markets.

According to a statement sent to Apple staff on Wednesday, retail employees will see an increase in their hourly compensation.

In a statement received by The Wall Street Journal, Apple stated, "Supporting and retaining the best team members in the world enables us to deliver the best, most innovative products and services for our customers".

"This year as part of our annual performance review process, we're increasing our overall compensation budget."

It's a 45 percent raise over what workers made in 2018. A rise in salaried roles is also expected in the future.

For Apple, making this move was probably about getting a jump on unionization efforts already underway around the country. Unionization is a response to stagnating salaries, low benefits, and lax health policies.

A new video from Apple retail chief Deirdre O'Brien addressing staff members slammed the recent unionization efforts at several of the company's brick-and-mortar sites. That the measures could hinder workplace growth and possibly undermine Apple's connection with its employees, she has stated, is what she has said in the past.

Recently, Apple has been accused of breaking the National Labor Relations Act and obstructing a union organizing campaign at the Apple Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Georgia.

The company has recruited well-known anti-union lawyers to respond to the Atlanta union effort, and it has distributed anti-union literature to some store managers.