In a first, Apple reaches a union contract with store employees in Maryland

Apple has reached a tentative agreement with its first unionized retail store in the U., located in Towson, Maryland. This deal, negotiated by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, promises a 10 per cent average pay increase and additional benefits over three years for the store’s employees.

The proposed contract is pending approval from the approximately 85 employees at the Towson store, with a vote set for August 6. The union’s negotiating committee expressed optimism, viewing the agreement as a crucial first step towards further improvements in labour conditions across Apple stores.

This development follows a strike authorization by the Towson store workers in May, driven by dissatisfaction with the progress of year-long negotiations with management.

The Towson location is one of only two unionized Apple stores in the country. Employees there voted to unionize in June 2022, and later that year, a second store in Oklahoma City followed suit, joining the Communications Workers of America. However, the Oklahoma City store has yet to secure a contract with Apple.

This successful tentative agreement at Apple aligns with a broader trend of unionization efforts across major US companies. Recent years have seen significant union victories at an Amazon warehouse in New York City, a Chipotle store in Michigan, and numerous Starbucks locations nationwide. Despite these wins, many newly unionized workplaces have struggled to finalize contracts, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the labor movement.

If approved, the Towson store’s contract could serve as a model for other Apple retail locations and potentially inspire further unionization efforts within the company. The vote on August 6 will determine whether this agreement sets a precedent for improved labor relations at Apple.