In a historic moment for Apple workers, a group of Apple store employees in Maryland reached the first union labor contract agreement in the company’s history this week.
First Union Deal for Apple Workers
Apple reached a tentative agreement with unionized retail employees in Maryland last week, signaling the first labor deal that the company has ever made with any US Apple workers.
IAM CORE Agreement
The deal was struck between Apple and The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), which represents employees at a single Apple store in Towson, Maryland.
Voted in On August 6
The agreement was announced in a public statement by the union’s negotiating committee on Friday. It will be voted on by store workers on August 6 and will need the approval of at least 85 store workers in order to pass.
“Giving Our Members a Voice”
“By reaching a tentative agreement with Apple, we are giving our members a voice in their futures and a strong first step toward further gains,” the statement read. “Together, we can build on this success in store after store.”
Only Two Stores Unionized
The Townson store is one of only two Apple stores in the entire country that are represented by a union. Store workers officially joined the machinists union back in June 2022, and have been working toward their first union contract ever since.
Strike Authorization in May
However, the ball really started rolling back in May this year, when the union members voted to authorize a strike against the tech giant over claims that Apple representatives had continuously stalled negotiations.
More Than a Year of Negotiations
Towson workers had been in negotiations with Apple for more than a year before taking more definitive steps over “unsatisfactory” negotiations.
Raises and Benefits
If approved in a vote, the agreement will comprise a three-year contract including a 10% raise for all workers, a severance clause, better implemented work-life balance for employees, and other hard-won benefits.
More Transparent Disciplinary Process
It would also require the company to provide more transparency around the disciplinary process, as well as protections for employees during these processes.
A “Historic Moment”
“The true partnership between the IAM, IAM CORE, and Apple workers has led us to this historic moment,” said David Sullivan, the General Vice President of IAM Eastern Territory, in an accompanying statement.
“Extremely Proud”
“IAM District 4 Directing Business Representative Jay Wadleigh and others have brought their knowledge, experience, and tenacity to every day of these negotiations,” he added. “We’re extremely proud to be the first union to take on this fight for Apple workers.”
Towson and Oklahoma City
Towson Apple store workers were the first Apple site in the country to unionize, followed by Apple store workers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma only a few months later.
A Huge Moment for US Unions
At the time, the successful vote for unionization was lauded by unions around the country as a historic act of representation for tech workers in the US, who are often unsuccessful in seeking union representation.
Applauding Their Courage
“I applaud the courage displayed by CORE members at the Apple store in Towson for achieving this historic victory,” IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. announced back in 2022.
One of the Largest Trade Unions
The IAM is one of the largest industrial trade unions in the country, representing more than 600,000 workers across a range of diverse industries, including aerospace, airlines, railroad, healthcare, automotive, and more.
Communications Workers of America
Oklahoma workers, on the other hand, joined the Communications Workers of America. Though they have been engaged in negotiations with the company, they have not yet managed to negotiate a contract with Apple management.
No Specific Comment Yet
While Apple has not issued any specific comment on Friday’s union contract announcement, it did point reporters to an earlier statement made in reference to the Towson negotiations.
“We Deeply Value Our Team Members”
“We deeply value our team members and we’re proud to provide them with industry-leading compensation and exceptional benefits,” the statement read.
Others Still Struggling
The agreement is a major achievement for high-profile unions across the country, as others struggle to achieve the same gains.
Older Union Members Can’t Catch a Break
Some unions representing workers at corporations like Starbucks and Amazon have been unable to secure labor deals for their members, despite those workers joining labor unions long before the Maryland workers.
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