Apple has reached a tentative collective bargaining contract with the first unionized company store in the country. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, representing the employees at a retail location in Maryland, announced a three-year deal that will increase pay by an average of 10% and offer other benefits to workers. The agreement must be approved by roughly 85 employees at the store in Towson, with a vote scheduled for Aug. 6.
The union’s negotiating committee expressed optimism about the agreement, stating that it gives members a voice in their futures and a strong first step toward further gains. The Maryland store is one of only two unionized Apple sites in the country, with the employees voting in favor of the union in June 2022. The second store in Oklahoma City unionized with the Communications Workers of America but has not secured a contract with Apple.
Unions have experienced recent successes in gaining election wins, including at an Amazon warehouse in New York City, a Chipotle store in Michigan, and hundreds of Starbucks stores nationwide. However, many have struggled to secure contracts. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the tentative agreement.
This development signals a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to secure better working conditions and compensation for retail employees in unionized Apple stores. Stay tuned for further updates as the vote on the contract approaches.
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