Apple workers secure historic union deal

Apple is close to finalising its first-ever deal with a US retail employee union, following demands from store workers who threatened to strike in May. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) announced a tentative three-year agreement with the 85 employees at Apple’s Towson, Maryland store.

In June 2022, Towson retail employees voted to unionise with IAM CORE. Negotiations for a collective bargaining contract began in early 2023, but little progress was made, leading to a strike authorization in May. Key issues included work-life balance, unpredictable scheduling, and wages not keeping pace with the cost of living. These concerns have been addressed in the new contract without the need for a strike.

The three-year contract promises improved scheduling to protect work-life balance, average raises of 10 percent, increased starting pay for most job classifications, limits on contract employees, a severance clause, and a more transparent disciplinary process. All existing benefits for Towson employees have been maintained, and the contract includes an agreement for future negotiations on changes.

Towson store employees will vote on ratifying the contract on August 6. The union hopes this success will inspire other Apple retail locations to unionise, with the only other successful unionisation effort in Oklahoma City still negotiating a contract. IAM CORE believes this could be the beginning of a larger movement within Apple’s US workforce.