Towson, Maryland – Workers at the Apple Store located in Towson Town Center Mall have reached a groundbreaking tentative labor agreement with the tech giant, marking the first-ever US labor contract for an Apple store. The union representing the retail workers successfully negotiated the deal after months of seeking their first contract since joining the International Association of Machinists union in June 2022.

The labor deal, which is yet to be ratified by a vote of the 85 rank-and-file members at the store, includes significant improvements in scheduling to promote better work-life balance. Additionally, the agreement entails a 10% pay raise over the three-year duration of the contract, along with job protections such as guarantees for severance packages for laid-off employees and limitations on contract workers.

Negotiations between Apple and the union have been closely watched as other high-profile union organizing campaigns at companies like Starbucks and Amazon have yet to yield similar agreements. While the National Labor Relations Board oversees labor relations for most US businesses, the process of reaching a first contract can be lengthy, with studies indicating an average of 465 days before an agreement is reached.

The Machinists union expressed satisfaction with the tentative agreement, emphasizing that it gives workers a voice in their future and represents a significant step towards further gains. The union now aims to expand its representation to retail workers in other Apple stores, building on the success achieved in Towson, Maryland.

With approximately 270 Apple stores across the United States, the recent labor deal in Towson sets a precedent for future discussions between the company and its workers. Only one other Apple store, situated in Oklahoma City and represented by the Communications Workers of America, has voted to unionize, but is not covered by the current agreement. Apple, known for its industry-leading compensation and benefits for team members, declined to provide further comments on the tentative agreement.