Maryland Apple Store staff vote in favor of strike action

Apple Towson Town Center store (Source: Apple)

Workers at the Apple Towson Town Center store in Maryland have backed their union's plan to hold a strike over unresolved issues.

The Towson store unionized in 2022, and representatives had said they were disheartened by what were described as Apple's insufficient responses to concerns. Unions at the store conducted an independent survey early in 2024 and reported on alleged illegal anti-union activities by Apple.

Now according to CNBC, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (AIM) union says workers at the store have voted in favor of authorizing a strike. "The issues at the forefront of this action include concerns over work-life balance," said the union in a statement, "unpredictable scheduling practices disrupting personal lives, and wages failing to align with the area's cost of living."

The vote was to give the union the mandate to strike, rather than over specifics such as dates. With that mandate, the union will now determine a date for work stoppage, unless Apple's response means a strike is no longer considered necessary.

"We will engage with the union representing our team in Towson respectfully and in good faith," said an Apple spokeswoman.

Previously, Apple has been vehemently against the practice of unionizing in its stores. Apple retail chief Deirdre O'Brien has said that putting "another organization in the middle of our relationship [with retal staff] could fundamentally change the company's "open and collaborative and direct engagement."

However, retail staff have questioned that description of the relationship between Apple and its workers. One staff member summarized the working conditions by saying that complaining to Apple is "like writing a letter to Santa."

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31 Comments

Panner_Nudding 11 comments · 2 Years

About 3 weeks ago

It’s one store shut it down and move on.

40domi 117 comments · 1 Year

Apple should make an example of them, let them strike, bring in staff from other stores (or shut it down) we'll see how they feel after a couple of months without pay (probably too stupid to realise they won't get paid)
As far as retail is concerned, probably the best job going and they get 40% discounts, so can make money on the side, by buying and selling stuff!
100 years ago, even 50 years ago, workers generally were poorly paid and treated, now with all the laws, Unions just scam workers 😡

gatorguy 24287 comments · 13 Years

40domi said:

Apple should make an example of them, let them strike, bring in staff from other stores (or shut it down) we'll see how they feel after a couple of months without pay (probably too stupid to realise they won't get paid)
As far as retail is concerned, probably the best job going and they get 40% discounts, so can make money on the side, by buying and selling stuff!
100 years ago, even 50 years ago, workers generally were poorly paid and treated, now with all the laws, Unions just scam workers ߘ᦬t;/div>
Yeah, teach those whiny ingrates! Apple owes them nothing, and doesn't need to listen to clueless hourly employees. Apple is the Alpha and needs to show them what that means.

It's a shame Apple enforcers can't take 'em out and beat 'em like union busters used to do. It's Apple's store and they can treat employees however they wish. Don't like it? Quit and work someplace else. /s

VictorMortimer 140 comments · New User

It doesn't surprise me that Apple isn't negotiating in good faith. Hopefully the threat of a strike will be enough that Apple takes them seriously.

All of retail needs to unionize. Retail workers have been abused for far too long.

brianus 163 comments · 18 Years

However, retail staff have questioned that description of the relationship between Apple and its workers. One staff member summarized the working conditions by saying that complaining to Apple is "like writing a letter to Santa."

Funny.. that is exactly what it’s like as a customer, sending Apple feedback or attempting bug reports.

I love the products but there is a toxic attitude here that needs to be challenged, and it obviously affects more than just customers. It’s ashame this is just one store, which will make it fairly easy for Apple to ignore.