Apple Towson employees. Credit: AIMTA
Maryland lawmakers wrote a delegation letter to Apple, asking the tech giant to inquire whether there were any paths forward other than closing Apple Towson.
Apple’s battle over its Towson location continues, with Maryland lawmakers stepping in to “express serious concerns” about Apple’s choice to close the store. On May 4, lawmakers drafted a congressional delegation to Apple, which reads:
“We urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable pathways that would preserve jobs and maintain a commercial presence in the region,” the signing members said in a letter to Apple.
“Maryland residents appreciate employers who invest in their workforce and demonstrate a sustained commitment to the communities they serve,” the lawmakers said. “We stand ready to engage constructively with Apple to better understand this decision and explore potential solutions.”
Lawmakers are asking Apple to explain the factors that led to the shutdown and the research done on how the shutdown would affect employees. He also wants to know what Apple plans to do to help employees who will soon lose their jobs.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union, along with Towson employees, thanked lawmakers alongside workers.
What led to the accusation in the first place
Apple recently announced the closure of three of its stores, Apple Trumbull, Apple North County and Apple Towson. The Towson location was Apple’s first unionized store.
For its part, Apple cited declining conditions and loss of retailers as the main reasons for the shutdown. But Towson employees, as well as the IAM union, don’t think that’s the whole story.
Therefore, at the end of April, IAM filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) complaint against Apple. The union suggested the closure was retaliatory in nature.
However, the accusation is not focused on closure, but rather on what happens next.
He claims Apple illegally discriminated against union workers, denying them the same job placement rights that non-union stores would enjoy. Trumbull and North County employees had the option to transfer to other locations.
Towson employees, on the other hand, were asked to apply for open positions at other stores, like any other non-employee looking for work.
Apple would later say that the Towson union had agreed to specific rules for rehiring in the event of a shutdown. If Apple opened a new store within a 50-mile radius, Towson would have the right to refuse. Otherwise, Apple says, employees will only receive severance pay.
Apple’s history with Towson
While it’s unlikely that Apple closed the store solely because of the union, that also doesn’t mean that Apple didn’t reap the benefits. Apple has made no secret of the fact that it wants workers to avoid unionization.
The company has gone out of its way to ensure that unionized stores do not receive benefits that it has rolled out in a timely manner while stalling contract negotiations. Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s head of retail, released a video telling employees directly that unionization was a net negative and encouraging workers to seek internal solutions.