Apple retail store strike looms a tech giant’s first unionized retail outlet

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ (IAM) Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE) announced on Saturday that members at the Apple retail store in Towson, Maryland, have voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike.

This decision reflects the collective dissatisfaction among workers concerning unresolved workplace issues. The potential commencement date for the strike is yet to be determined by IAM CORE.

After more than a year of negotiations with Apple management that failed to yield satisfactory results, IAM CORE members have taken a significant step by endorsing a strike at the Apple Towson store, signaling their unified demand for substantial changes.

Among the primary concerns prompting this action are issues related to work-life balance, irregular scheduling practices causing disruptions to personal lives, and wages that do not align with the region’s cost of living.

“This labor action comes as working-class Americans are taking notice that the nation’s political and economic systems have been rigged to put them at a disadvantage over the last five decades,” said Lisa McCormick, a New Jersey activist who applauded the union vote. “While workers’ wages fell, many households made up the difference by taking equity out of their homes but the global financial crisis demonstrated that approach was unsustainable and the Wall Street bailouts exposed the magnitude of injustice and greed that caused the chaos.”

The vote, which did not set a specific date for the strike, follows extensive negotiations with Apple management that the union described as unfruitful. Workers are advocating for modifications to what they perceive as unpredictable scheduling practices and wages commensurate with the local cost of living.

In June 2022, employees at the Towson store, situated in the Baltimore suburbs, voted by a nearly 2-to-1 margin to unionize, marking the first unionization of a U.S. Apple retail store.

This decision aligns with a broader trend across various sectors of U.S. retail, service, and technology industries where workers are organizing to secure enhanced workplace protections.

Apple, in response to inquiries, stated through a spokesperson, “We deeply value our team members and we’re proud to provide them with industry-leading compensation and exceptional benefits. As always, we will engage with the union representing our team in Towson respectfully and in good faith.”

Members of the IAM CORE Negotiating Committee expressed their sentiments, stating, “This vote today is the first step in demonstrating our solidarity and sends a clear message to Apple. The passage of the strike sanction vote highlights IAM CORE’s unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of workers in the face of challenges. As discussions with Apple management continue, we remain committed to securing tangible improvements that benefit all employees.”

Earlier this year, IAM CORE released findings from an independent survey of Apple employees in response to the company’s “Workers Rights Assessment,” commissioned to address shareholder concerns and employee activism.

The survey revealed disparities with Apple’s official report and emphasized a troubling pattern of alleged illegal conduct by the company, including claims of unlawful terminations and collective punishment against workers exercising their right to organize and join a union.

Additionally, a group of institutional investors led by New York City’s five pension funds released a scathing report on a workers’ rights assessment of Apple Inc., conducted by law firm Jenner & Block LLP.

IAM CORE represents approximately 100 employees at Apple’s retail store in Towson, Md. Since January 2023, IAM CORE members have been engaged in negotiations with Apple management.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members across various sectors, including aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, and automotive industries.