Apple to Shut Down First US Unionized Store in June
Apple Inc. is set to close its retail store in Towson, Maryland — a site that garnered national attention in recent years as the focal point of a rare unionization effort by the iPhone maker’s employees. The company announced on Thursday that the store situated at Towson Town Center mall will permanently close in June and will not be replaced. In a statement, Apple acknowledged that the closure is a result of the “departure of several retailers and declining conditions” at the mall, describing it as a “difficult decision.”
On Thursday morning, employees were notified of the transition as Apple temporarily closed the store to customers and convened a meeting with staff, managers, and human resources representatives. Apple is set to close stores in June at Trumbull Mall in Connecticut and the North County Mall near San Diego. Despite the recent departures of several retailers, such as Crate & Barrel and Banana Republic, many employees expressed feeling blindsided, holding the belief that the store’s unionized status provided a degree of protection. Apple stated that “Towson employees will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.” In contrast to employees at the other two stores set to close in June, Towson workers are not being given the option to transfer to nearby locations.
“As we continue investing to expand and enhance our retail stores and offerings worldwide, we remain deliberate about evaluating our existing locations to ensure that we can meet our customers’ needs in the best way,” the company stated. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing Towson employees, characterized the decision as union busting. “Apple’s assertion that the collective bargaining agreement prohibits relocation is unequivocally incorrect and prompts significant concerns that this closure is a calculated effort to undermine the union,” a union representative stated.
The union stated that it is “exploring all legal options and will work with elected officials and allies to hold Apple accountable.” The company’s other unionized location in the US, a store in Oklahoma City, continues to operate. Apple seldom shuts down retail locations; however, it does sometimes close stores that are in proximity to larger nearby outlets, replace them with new ones in adjacent areas, or exit certain sites entirely due to diminishing foot traffic or other considerations. For the first time, the company closed a store in China last year.
