Maryland store workers to strike against Apple

Workers at the Apple store in Towson, Maryland are not happy with the company’s treatment and voted in favor of a strike on Saturday.

The authorization to strike appears on concerns for work-life balance, unpredictable scheduling practices disrupting personal lives, and wages failing to match the cost of living in the area.

Apple workers in Maryland voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (AIM) union in 2022. It became the first retail employees chain of the Cupertino-based company to unionize in the US. This was followed by a unionization vote at an Apple store in Oklahoma City in the same year.

Compared to Maryland, workers at the Apple store in Short Hills, New Jersey denied unionization.

Meanwhile, an Apple spokeswoman said the workers will engage with the representative union “respectfully and in good faith”. However, the union has not decided the strike date and work stoppage. What’s significant is that this will be the first-ever strike by Apple store employees.

Earlier this month, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alleged that a manager at Apple’s retail store in Manhattan violated U.S. labor law by asking an employee some questions about unionization.

A single-page ruling by NLRB claims that the worker has raised concerns about pay at a group meeting. This has led to unlawful interrogation and upheld a decision by an administrative judge. The NRLB board also blames Apple banned workers from distributing union flyers.

Workers and unions have filed more than 12 complaints against Apple for unlawful activities. These cases are pending before administrative judges.

These concerns come amid Apple scored a win in a case of firing store employees. Last year, the iPhone maker terminated five workers who allegedly supported union activity at its Kansas City store.

The firm soon terminated these employees citing missing work, late and improper attendance. However, the Communication Workers of America (CWA) pressed charges against Apple alleging that Apple fired these employees for supporting their unionization. NLRB board dismissed these allegations.