Workers at an Apple store in Maryland have voted to authorize a strike, marking a busy weekend for union organizing efforts at the company’s stores in the United States. Meanwhile, at another store, workers voted against forming a union.
In 2022, employees in Towson, Maryland, became the first formally recognized union in an Apple retail store. That union, affiliated with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, voted on Saturday to authorize a strike. The date for this potential strike has not yet been determined.
The IAM CORE Negotiating Committee issued a statement following the vote, highlighting that this step demonstrates the group’s solidarity and sends a clear message to Apple. “Approval of the strike authorization vote underscores IAM CORE’s unwavering commitment to defending workers’ rights and well-being in the face of challenges,” they said. “As we continue our discussions with Apple management, we are committed to securing tangible improvements that benefit all employees.”
The union has been negotiating with Apple since January 2023 on issues including work-life balance, unpredictable scheduling, and wages.
An Apple spokesperson told Bloomberg that they deeply value their team members and are proud to provide them with industry-leading compensation and exceptional benefits. “As always, we will communicate with the union representing our team in Towson in a respectful and good-faith manner,” they added.
Bloomberg also reported that a vote to unionize a store in Short Hills, New Jersey, with the Communication Workers of America, failed. Before the vote, the CWA filed an unfair labor practice charge against Apple, alleging retaliation against one of the store organizers by scheduling multiple unprecedented meetings with their supervisor and denying leave requests.
Earlier this week, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Apple violated federal labor laws in 2022 by confiscating union pamphlets and interrogating staff about union efforts at the Apple store in the World Trade Center in New York.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director
Photo: Bethesda Maryland Apple Store / Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic