Apple and the International Association of Machinists union have reached a tentative labor agreement for retail workers at the Apple store in Towson, Maryland.
This deal marks the first-ever labor agreement for Apple workers in the United States.
The Towson store workers voted to join the union in June 2022 and authorized a potential strike in May 2023 while negotiating their first contract.
The tentative deal now awaits ratification by the 85 union members at the store.
The agreement includes key provisions to improve work-life balance, a major issue during negotiations.
It offers scheduling improvements for a better work-life balance, deemed a major issue in the talks.
The deal also includes a 10 percent pay raise over three years, and job protections, including guaranteed severance packages for laid-off employees and limitations on using contract workers.
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The union said: “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.
“Together, we can build on this success in store after store and grow the power (the union) has started here in Maryland.”
Studies show reaching a first contract often takes considerable time, with an average of 465 days, or roughly 15 months.
In some cases, it takes longer, with 43 percent of new unions still without a first contract two years after winning a representation election.
Apple, which operates about 270 stores in the US, has not commented directly on the tentative agreement.
