Following Apple’s move to shut down its first-ever unionized store, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has lodged an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. Here are the specifics.
### Apple Accused of Union Suppression
Earlier this month, Apple revealed its intention to shut three locations: Apple Towson Town Center in Towson (MD), Apple North County in Escondido (CA), and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull (CT). In all three instances, the company cited diminishing conditions and the exit of other retailers from the malls housing the stores.
The closure of Apple Towson Town Center quickly garnered considerable attention, as it was the first Apple retail outlet in the U.S. to unionize. Apple mentioned that employees at the Trumbull and North County stores would be able to continue their work at nearby sites, while Towson staff would be “eligible to seek open positions at Apple in alignment with the collective bargaining agreement.”
In response, the IAM Union voiced concerns that the closure represented a “cynical effort to dismantle the union.” They declared intentions to investigate “all legal avenues and will collaborate with elected officials and allies to ensure Apple is held accountable.”
On April 9, 2026, the IAM Union filed a charge of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Apple of showing bias against Towson employees by not allowing them to transfer to other locations. The charge document claimed that since the announcement of the closure, Apple has denied Towson employees, who are represented by the IAM, the chance to exercise their transfer rights and other options afforded to non-represented employees affected by store closures at alternative locations.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant underscored the necessity of equitable treatment under the law, stating, “Apple is withholding from union-represented workers the same opportunities it is offering to others — and doing so because these workers opted to organize. That is discrimination, and it is precisely what federal labor law aims to prevent.”
The IAM Union also conducted a press conference, reiterating its demand for Apple to “reverse its decision and treat Towson workers justly.”
You can access IAM Union’s unfair labor practice charge for more information.
