Nine members of the U.S. Congress from Maryland have sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and hardware engineering chief John Ternus expressing “serious concern” about the company’s decision to permanently close its unionized retail store at the Towson Town Center on June 20, without plans to open a replacement store in the Baltimore region.
Background
The Towson store, which opened in 2001, became Apple’s first U.S. retail location to unionize in 2022. Employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) and signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024. The store is one of three U.S. Apple locations closing permanently in June, alongside stores in Trumbull, Connecticut, and Escondido, California.
The Lawmakers’ Letter
The letter, signed by two senators and seven representatives (all Democrats), acknowledges that “decisions of this scale involve complex business considerations” but urges Apple to “reconsider whether there are viable paths forward that would preserve jobs and maintain a retail presence in the region.” The lawmakers note that the Towson store has been “a strong-performing location,” though local news reports indicate the shopping mall is in decline, having lost major retailers like Tommy Bahama, Banana Republic, and Madewell.
Key requests in the letter:
- A clearer explanation of the rationale behind the closure
- Whether alternatives such as relocating the store or other operational adjustments were meaningfully considered
- Information about how the closure will affect approximately 90 employees and small businesses across the Baltimore region
The Union Dispute
The IAM union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last month, alleging discriminatory treatment against unionized workers. Unlike employees at the Trumbull and North County stores—who are guaranteed transfers to nearby Apple locations—Towson employees are only eligible to apply for open roles in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement. The union argues this “raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union.”
Apple maintains it is simply following the terms of the bargaining agreement. According to Apple, the contract states that in the event of a store closure, Apple would transfer or rehire employees if a new store opened within 50 miles of the current location. In any other circumstance, the union negotiated for employees to receive severance. Apple has no current plans to open a new store in the area, but if it does within 18 months, affected employees would have right of first refusal.
“We strongly disagree with the claims made, and we will continue to abide by the agreement that was negotiated and agreed with the union,” an Apple spokesperson said