Apple Store Workers in Towson Town Center Mall Reach Historic Labor Agreement with Union, Marking Milestone for Tech Giant

Towson, Maryland – Apple and the union representing employees at the Towson Town Center Mall store in Maryland reached a tentative labor agreement, marking a significant milestone as the first US labor contract for the tech giant. The deal comes after workers voted to join the International Association of Machinists union in June 2022 and have since been negotiating their first contract.

The labor deal, yet to be ratified by the 85 rank-and-file members at the store, includes scheduling improvements for a better work-life balance and a 10% pay increase over the three-year duration of the contract. Additionally, job protections such as guarantees for severance packages and limits on contract employees were also part of the agreement.

According to the Machinists union, the deal represents a step towards gaining a stronger voice for workers and lays the foundation for future progress. The union is now looking to expand its representation to retail workers at other stores, building on the success achieved in Maryland.

With only one other Apple store in Oklahoma City having voted to unionize with a different union, the Communications Workers of America, it is important to note that this labor deal does not cover that specific location. Apple, which owns about 270 stores nationwide, expressed pride in providing industry-leading compensation and benefits to its team members.

Negotiating a labor agreement with a new union can be a lengthy process, with studies showing that the average time to reach a first contract is approximately 15 months. Despite the challenges, this agreement sets a precedent for other high-profile union organizing efforts in the corporate world, such as those at Starbucks and Amazon, which have yet to secure deals for their workers despite voting to join unions earlier than the Apple employees in Maryland.