Apple closes first unionized U.S. store in Maryland; workers allege retaliation
By
Brian O’Connell
Summary
Apple has closed its store in Towson, Maryland — the first Apple Store in the U.S. to successfully unionize in 2022. The closure, along with two other stores in Connecticut and California, has left dozens of employees jobless. Union organizers and workers allege the closure is retaliation for unionizing, pointing to the store's strong performance and Apple's history of anti-union tactics. Apple cited declining conditions and retailer departures, but workers and the union (IAM) dispute this, noting the store was profitable and well-trafficked. The closure has sparked accusations of bad faith and labor law violations, with the union filing charges. The article explores the broader context of Apple's unionization battles and the chilling effect this may have on other organizing efforts.
Source
bskyApple closes first unionized U.S. store in Maryland; workers allege retaliationmoneywise.comKey quotes
· 5 pulled'I'm really sad. I'm angry. I'm frustrated. I'm disappointed. I'm feeling a lot of things right now,' said William — a former employee at the store who asked that his last name not be used for fear of retaliation.
'It's a very clear message to the rest of the country that if you try to organize, you will lose your job,' said Michael Forsythe, a labor organizer with the IAM.
'We take immense pride in our retail stores and we are committed to our customers and the communities we serve,' an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.
'The store was performing well. It was a profitable store. It was a busy store. There was no reason to close it other than retaliation,' said William.
'This is a classic case of union busting, and it's happening in plain sight,' said one labor expert quoted in the article.
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