Apple withholding latest employee benefits at it sole unionized retail store

Apple is withholding its latest employee benefits from staff who work at its sole unionized retail store, “a move that could potentially inflame labor tensions at the technology giant,” reports Bloomberg. 

This week Apple announced plans to offer employees additional funds for education and new health care features in some states. However, unionized employees at the Towson, Maryland Apple retail store won’t receive these benefits.

Towson workers must negotiate benefits with Apple through the union. As noted by MacRumors, Apple’s head of retail, Deirdre O’Brien, warned employees about such situations in anti-union messaging sent out in May.

In June Reuters reported that Apple won’t challenge the results of a vote by workers at its Towson, Maryland, store to join a labor union and intends to participate in the bargaining process “in good faith.”

In a June statement, David Sullivan, the union’s eastern territory vice president, said the members “look forward to bargaining with Apple and obtaining a strong first contract that makes positive changes for Apple workers and the customers they are proud to serve.”