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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union has accused Apple of unlawfully discriminating against the unionized employees of the company\u2019s Towson, Maryland retail store. IAM has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Apple with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after the company announced on April 9 that it was shutting down<\/a> three of its US stores. One of those locations was the Towson retail outlet, which employed nearly 90 workers and became the first Apple Store in the country to unionize<\/a> back in 2022.<\/p>\n In its complaint, IAM said that Apple didn\u2019t offer the employees it represents the transfer opportunities it provided to non-unionized employees from its other stores. Unlike those non-represented employees, Towson personnel were allegedly told that they had to reapply for positions through the same process as external candidates. \u201cApple is denying union-represented workers the same opportunities it is giving to others \u2014 and doing so because these workers chose to organize,\u201d the organization said. \u201cThat is discrimination, and it is exactly what federal labor law is designed to prevent.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the Towson location, Apple also shut down its stores in Trumbull, CT, Escondito, CA. Back when the closures were announced, IAM said that \u201cApple\u2019s claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that [the] closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n