In a letter sent this week to Apple CEO Tim Cook and hardware engineering chief John Ternus, nine U.S. Congress members from Maryland expressed “serious concerns” about Apple’s decision to close its unionized retail store in Towson, Maryland, on June 20, with no plans to open a replacement store in the Baltimore area.
“We recognize that decisions of this magnitude involve complex commercial considerations,” the lawmakers said. “However, we urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable pathways that would preserve jobs and maintain a business presence in the region. Maryland residents value employers who invest in their workforce and demonstrate a lasting commitment to the communities they serve. We stand ready to engage constructively with Apple to better understand this decision and explore potential solutions.”
The letter was signed by nine Maryland lawmakers, including two senators and seven representatives, all from the Democratic Party. They said it was their understanding that the Apple store in downtown Towson was in “a high-performing location,” but several local news reports said the mall was in decline and had lost major retailers like Tommy Bahama, Banana Republic and Madewell.
In the letter, lawmakers said closing the store would “significantly impact” Baltimore-area residents and small businesses, including about 90 employees. As a result, they asked Apple to provide a clearer understanding of the rationale for this decision, including whether alternatives such as moving the store or other operational adjustments had been meaningfully considered.
Last month, Apple announced it would permanently close three U.S. retail stores in June, with the other two locations set to close beyond downtown Apple Towson being Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut, and Apple North County in Escondido, California. Apple said it made the difficult decision following “the departure of several retailers” and deteriorating conditions “at all three malls.
Notably, the Towson store staff became the first Apple retail employees in the United States to unionize in 2022. They belong to the International Association of Machinists and the Aerospace Workers Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) and they signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024.
Apple said employees at the Trumbull and North County stores will “continue their duties” at nearby company stores in each area, so transfer eligibility is guaranteed. Meanwhile, Apple said employees at the Towson store will be eligible to apply for open positions at Apple in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement, and it is unclear whether everyone who applies will be successful in securing a new position at the company.
Last month, the IAM union filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging discriminatory treatment of union workers at the Towson store. Unlike workers at two other shuttered stores, Apple did not offer its unionized Towson employees the opportunity to transfer to other stores.
IAM said Apple’s failure to offer transfers to Towson employees “raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union.”
“We commend Maryland’s congressional delegation for supporting these workers and demanding answers from Apple,” said Brian Bryant, International President of the IAM Union. “These workers made history by exercising their right to organize to make their voices heard at work. Walking away from this now sends a dangerous message to workers everywhere.”
Apple said it was simply honoring the terms of the negotiating agreement.
According to Apple, the contract the union agreed to states that in the event of a store closure, Apple would transfer or rehire employees if the company opened a new store within 50 miles of the current downtown Towson location. In all other circumstances, the union has negotiated for employees to receive severance pay. Apple is not currently planning to open a new store in the region, but if it did so within the next 18 months, affected employees would be given a right of first refusal.
“We strongly disagree with the statements made and will continue to respect the agreement that was negotiated and agreed to with the union,” an Apple spokesperson said. “We look forward to presenting all the facts to the NLRB.”
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