Maryland Apple Store Makes History as First to Unionize
Apple retail workers in Towson, Maryland officially win a union vote despite aggressive anti-union tactics from the tech giant, marking a historic first for the company.
Apple retail workers in Towson, Maryland make history by becoming the first Apple store in the United States to win a formal union vote. Out of 110 eligible employees, 65 cast yes votes to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers under the name Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE). This landmark victory occurs even as Apple actively attempts to discourage its retail staff from organizing.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Apple's vice president of people and retail Deirdre O’Brien sends a video to 58,000 retail employees highlighting anti-union talking points. She argues that a union makes it difficult to enact change, but workers insist that meaningful improvements are impossible without a formally recognized bargaining unit. These aggressive tactics mirror the situation at an Atlanta store, where organizers withdraw their election request after accusing Apple of illegal union-busting practices like "captive audience" meetings.
Despite Apple's pushback, including a recent pay increase to a $22 minimum hourly wage and the hiring of a notoriously anti-union law firm, the Towson employees stand firm. In their letter to CEO Tim Cook, the workers explain that their decision stems from a deep love for their roles and a desire to gain rights they currently lack. With over two dozen other Apple stores expressing interest in organizing, this historic win in Maryland potentially sparks a much larger labor movement across the company's retail locations.