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TOWSON, Md., Sept. 22, 2023 – Several Maryland labor and community groups stood in solidarity with IAM Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) in Towson, Md. for an informational picket at the first unionized Apple store in the U.S.
The demonstration came as a response to the company’s attempts to eliminate critical benefits for its unionized workers who are working towards negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement.
Apple has proposed removing benefits that would disproportionately impact women and families. These benefits include health savings account contributions, reimbursement for education expenses, leave for victims of domestic assault, and time off for new parents and military personnel, among others.
The informational picket was aimed at raising awareness among Apple customers about the company’s recent attempts to undermine the rights of unionized employees, who are crucial to the success of the highly-anticipated iPhone 15 release.
“The demonstration is a powerful display of unity and solidarity among working people,” said the IAM CORE Negotiating Committee. “We want Apple to value its employees with respect and dignity because if they succeed, the workers also succeed. This call for fair treatment and recognition of employee contributions resonated strongly with the community, who believe that employees’ hard work and dedication should be rewarded appropriately.”
“It’s truly inspiring to witness the overwhelming support from community groups and allies during IAM CORE’s busiest day of the year,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “To propose eliminating important benefits affecting women and families is disgraceful. We urge Apple’s management to prioritize its employees and cease anti-union tactics, as their decisions affect the communities they serve.”
During the summer, IAM CORE members filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge against Apple for engaging in regressive union tactics against unionized employees.
IAM CORE workers also filed a ULP charge in November 2022 for excluding IAM CORE members in Towson, Md., from certain benefits offered to other Apple employees.
In June 2022, IAM CORE members made history as the first Apple retail store workers to form a union in the United States and have been negotiating with Apple management since January 2023.
IAM Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), a division of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), represents approximately 100 employees at Apple’s retail store in Towson, Md.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
