After becoming the first Apple Store in the country to form a union in June 2022, retail workers at the Towson Town Center store this week reached a “historic” collective bargaining agreement with Apple that offers workers numerous benefits. This achievement comes after the union planned a strike related to the collective bargaining earlier this year.

Update from August 10th: Earlier this week, 96% of unionized Apple Store workers voted to ratify the contract, officially securing all of the benefits listed below. IAM International President Brian Bryant stated in his press release:

The historic agreement won by the courageous IAM CORE members at the Apple Store in Towson sets a new standard for Apple retail workers across the country and proves the undeniable power of collective bargaining. The IAM has proven once again that we have the strength to take on some of the largest companies in the world and win.

Original story from July 27:

The coalition of organized retail workers of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers or IAM CORE is the union representing the store’s 85 employees. They say this agreement will improve work-life balance, increase wages and protect employees’ jobs.

These changes are in addition to all the benefits that union workers have already won at the Apple Store, and they will also be able to negotiate for future benefits.

In their press release they write:

“From the beginning, IAM CORE’s mission has been to make Apple better for our employees, customers and communities,” said the IAM CORE Negotiating Committee“By reaching a tentative agreement with Apple, we are giving our members a voice in shaping their future and a strong first step toward continued success. Together, we can build on this success in every store and continue to expand the power that IAM CORE has built here in Maryland.”

Store employees will be able to vote on the agreement on August 6. The contract will run for three years. Key benefits for employees include:

• Improvements in working time planning with additional protection for full-time and part-time workers
• Salary increases of an average of 10% over the entire contract period
• Increase in starting salary for most positions
• Limiting the number of contract employees and an additional severance clause for greater job security
• A fair and clear disciplinary procedure with new safeguards and responsibilities

David Sullivan, vice president of IAM Eastern Territory, added that they are “extremely proud to be the first union to take up this fight for Apple workers.”