Two years ago, workers at an Apple Store in Towson, Maryland, were the first to form a formally recognized union at an Apple retail store in the United States. Now, they have become the first to reach a tentative contract agreement.
According to the International Union of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, a union of organized retail workers representing about 85 Towson store employees, the three-year contract includes scheduling improvements, an average 10 percent raise over the life of the contract, termination provisions and limits on contract workers, and a transparent disciplinary process.
“By reaching a tentative agreement with Apple, we are giving our members a clear vision for the future and taking a strong first step toward additional benefits,” the union’s negotiating committee said in a statement.
The union is scheduled to vote on the agreement on August 6. During the negotiations, workers voted to authorize a strike, which the bargaining committee described as “a first step in showing our solidarity” and said would “send a clear message to Apple.”
There have been campaigns to unionize other Apple stores across the U.S., but so far only two have been successful. Apple's contract talks continue with the union at the Oklahoma City store.
Apple did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.
