Apple and its first U.S. retail union, IAM CORE, reach tentative agreement for better wages, benefits and more

 A tentative labor agreement has been reached between Apple and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) representing workers at the Towson, Maryland Apple store. Considering the fact that negotiations have been ongoing since January 2023, this is a huge milestone in the ongoing labor organizing efforts within big tech. The deal is subject to ratification by workers on August 6th.

The agreement, the terms of which have not been fully disclosed, is expected to address key worker demands, including wages, benefits, and working conditions. The Apple store in Towson, Maryland, became the first Apple retail location in the U.S. to unionize in June 2022. The subsequent negotiations have been marked by tension, with IAM CORE accusing Apple of delaying tactics.

IAM CORE, a union representing workers in various sectors, has been engaged in contentious negotiations with Apple for over a year. The union previously secured a strike authorization vote from its members as bargaining intensified. This final tentative agreement comes after months of bargaining. Apple has been increasingly scrutinized for its labor practices lately, with workers at other major tech companies such as Samsung also retaliating because of low salaries.