Union accuses Apple of unlawful discrimination against represented workers

Source: Engadget

Background

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union has accused Apple of unlawfully discriminating against the unionized employees of the company’s Towson, Maryland retail store. IAM filed an unfair‑labor‑practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after Apple announced on April 9 that it was shutting down three U.S. stores. The Towson outlet, which employed nearly 90 workers, became the first Apple Store in the country to unionize in 2022.

Complaint Details

IAM alleges that Apple did not offer the union‑represented Towson employees the transfer opportunities it provided to non‑unionized staff from other stores. Instead, Towson workers were told they had to reapply for positions through the same process as external candidates.

“Apple is denying union‑represented workers the same opportunities it is giving to others — and doing so because these workers chose to organize. That is discrimination, and it is exactly what federal labor law is designed to prevent,” the union said.

Store Closures

In addition to the Towson location, Apple also shut down stores in:

• Trumbull, Connecticut
• Escondido, California

When the closures were announced, IAM stated that Apple’s claim that the collective‑bargaining agreement prevents relocation is “simply false” and raises serious concerns that the closures are a “cynical attempt to bust the union.”