In a landmark decision, employees at Apple’s Towson Town Center store in Maryland have voted to unionize. The final tally showed 65 votes in favor and 33 against, with approximately 110 workers eligible to participate in the election.
This outcome makes the Towson location the first Apple retail store in the United States to successfully hold and win a union election. The effort was spearheaded by a group of employees operating under the name AppleCORE, which stands for Coalition of Organized Retail Employees.
AppleCORE has aligned itself with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, a well-established union. Organizers have stated their primary goals include expanding worker rights, particularly in areas such as pay, scheduling, and safety protocols.
Apple’s response to unionization campaigns across its retail network has been notably resistant. The company has engaged anti-union legal counsel and directed both store-level and corporate leadership to communicate with employees about the perceived drawbacks of union membership.
Earlier this year, union organizers at an Apple store in Atlanta withdrew their petition for an election, which had been scheduled for early May. They cited Apple’s conduct as creating an environment where a fair vote was impossible, accusing the company of union-busting tactics, including the use of captive audience meetings at two separate locations.
Currently, no other union elections are formally scheduled at Apple retail stores in the US. However, momentum appears to be building elsewhere.
Workers at Apple’s Grand Central Terminal store in New York are actively gathering signatures to petition for their own union vote, in collaboration with the Communications Workers of America union. Additionally, organizing efforts are underway at an Apple store in Louisville, Kentucky.
