This week, Apple announced plans to offer retail employees additional funds for education and new healthcare features in some states. However, as reported by Bloomberg, unionized employees at the Towson, Maryland Apple Store will not receive these benefits. Towson employees were informed that their union will need to negotiate benefits with Apple. Apple’s head of retail, Deirdre O’Brien, warned the store’s employees about such a possibility back in May.
In June, employees at the Apple Store in Towson, Maryland voted 65 for and 33 against joining the Machinists Union, despite Apple’s efforts to tamp down unionization efforts.
“We have a relationship that is based on an open and collaborative and direct engagement,” she said at the time. “Which I feel could fundamentally change if a store is represented by a union under a collective bargaining agreement.”
Bloomberg indicates that Apple’s decision to withhold perks from the Towson store is a move to dissuade other stores from unionizing. However, it could backfire on Apple, angering employees further. Other companies like Starbucks that have been pushing back on unionization efforts have also only provided benefits at non-union stores.
Employees at non-union Apple retail locations will be eligible for advanced tuition reimbursement at select colleges, as well as a free Coursera membership. Employees in Connecticut, New York, Georgia, Washington, and New Jersey will have access to a health care plan that waives co-pays for Apple-approved doctors.
Apple has steadily been improving benefits for retail workers in an effort to prevent unionization, announcing in February that employees will receive paid sick days, more vacation days, and more parental leave. In June, the company agreed to more flexibility in employee schedules.
As noted by Bloomberg, the store in Maryland, which is represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, is preparing to begin formal negotiations with Apple.