Workers & Labor Groups Rally at SF Federal Building Over Gag Order

Rally demands courts stop allowing employers to silence workers who speak about their own experiences and working conditions

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:00am by Ben Kaplan

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On Thursday, April 2, 2026, workers, labor organizers, and whistleblower advocates will rally outside the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco to protest a federal court order that silences a former Apple employee from speaking publicly about her experiences reporting workplace issues, including the company's alleged requests for female employees to track intimate health details.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns that employers are using litigation tactics and protective orders to unlawfully restrict workers' rights to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions, which are protected under federal labor law. The rally aims to pressure courts and lawmakers to prevent this practice and uphold workers' free speech rights.

The details

In March 2026, a federal magistrate judge ordered former Apple senior engineering program manager Ashley Gjovik to delete her public speech about the company and stop talking about her experiences, including Apple's alleged requests for female employees to track menstrual cycles and other intimate health details for product research. The order came despite the fact that the NLRB previously found merit in Gjovik's allegations against Apple and the company is under investigation by multiple government agencies.

  • On March 30, 2026, the federal magistrate judge issued the order to silence Gjovik.
  • In April 2025, Apple reached a national settlement with the NLRB requiring the company to stop enforcing confidentiality policies that restrict workers' rights to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions.

The players

Ashley Gjovik

A former Apple senior engineering program manager who was fired in 2021 after publicly reporting environmental hazards, invasive employee studies, and workplace surveillance at the company.

Whistleblowers United (WBU)

An organization supporting the rally and Gjovik's case against Apple.

California Coalition for Workers Memorial Day

A labor organization participating in the rally.

WorkWeek

A media outlet covering labor issues that is involved in the rally.

United Front Committee for a Labor Party (UFCLP)

A labor advocacy group co-organizing the rally.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The judge in Gjovik's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow her out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns about employers using litigation tactics to unlawfully restrict workers' rights to discuss workplace issues, raising questions about the need for stronger protections for worker free speech and transparency around corporate conduct.