Congress Urges Apple to Reconsider Closure of Unionized Towson Store
In a significant development, 40 members of the U.S. Congress have collectively addressed a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, urging the company to reconsider its decision to close the Apple Store in Towson, Maryland. This store holds the distinction of being Apple’s first unionized retail location, a milestone achieved in June 2022 when employees voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union.
The congressional letter emphasizes the store’s status as a high-performing establishment, staffed by approximately 100 technologically skilled workers. The lawmakers express concern that the closure may violate Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, which safeguards employees’ rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. They urge Apple to either keep the store operational during these challenging economic times or, if closure is unavoidable, to ensure that the affected employees are transferred to nearby stores without the need to reapply.
The Towson store’s journey to unionization began in June 2022, marking a significant moment as the first Apple retail location in the U.S. to unionize. Following the successful vote, the store’s employees formed the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE) and partnered with the IAM Union. Negotiations between the union and Apple commenced in early 2023, focusing on pay, benefits, and working conditions. However, these discussions have faced challenges, with the union accusing Apple of withholding new health and education benefits introduced for non-unionized employees. In response, the union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Apple in November 2022, alleging unfair treatment and discrimination against unionized workers.
Apple announced in April 2026 that it would be closing three retail locations, including the Towson store, citing underperformance and declining mall traffic as primary reasons. The company stated that most employees from the closing stores would be transferred to nearby locations without the need for reapplication. However, unionized employees at the Towson store were informed that they would need to apply for open positions at other Apple locations, a stipulation outlined in their existing bargaining agreement. This disparity in treatment has led to allegations of anti-union discrimination, with the IAM Union filing another Unfair Labor Practice charge against Apple in April 2026.
The situation escalated further when Towson store employees, alongside local elected officials and union leaders, held a public rally on May 27, 2026, protesting the store’s impending closure and accusing Apple of unfair treatment towards unionized workers. The congressional letter adds to the mounting pressure on Apple, urging the company to reconsider its decision and to engage in fair treatment of its employees, regardless of their union status.
As the June 20 closure date approaches, the future of the Towson store employees remains uncertain. The outcome of the ongoing legal actions and Apple’s response to the congressional letter will likely have significant implications for labor relations within the company and may influence unionization efforts at other Apple retail locations.
