Apple Announces Tentative Collective Bargaining Contract With Maryland Store's Union

Apple revealed that a tentative collective bargaining contract with its Maryland store is now in place after negotiating with the union.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees shared the agreed terms that will impact its employees.

Apple Reach Tentative Contract With First Unionized Retail Store

According to the union's representative, the contract states that it will increase pay by an average of 10% along with other worker benefits in a three-year deal. The agreement must be approved by around 85 employees of the store on August 6.

"By reaching a tentative agreement with Apple, we are giving our members a voice in their futures and a strong first step toward further gains," the union wrote in a statement. The negotiating committee also hinted that it is working to strike the same deal with other stores as well.

The Maryland store is the first Apple retail store to officially unionize. The employees voted upon it last June 2022. The Oklahoma store, which followed suit, has yet to secure a contract with the tech giant.

Maryland Apple Store Sees Result of Earlier Strike

Last May, the employees of Maryland authorized a first strike against Apple's retail policy. The union stated that it was due to the lack of satisfactory outcomes from over a year of negotiations with the company.

The employees stuck by their rights against the "unpredictable" scheduling practices and low wages that did not align with the local cost of living. The union members managed to pursue the strike by handling information packets that detailed the purpose of it.

Apple's previous statement extended support to its team members and proper engagement with the union. The tentative bargaining contract would be the first positive result from the first-ever union strike.