Towson Apple – Ahead of the closure of the unionized Apple Towson Town Center in Maryland, workers and union leaders rallied outside the County Courthouse on May 27, 2026, accusing Apple of anti-union discrimination by denying Towson staff automatic transfer options offered
On May 27, 2026, the crowd gathered outside the County Courthouse in Maryland with a simple demand: don’t treat Towson differently just because it voted to unionize.
Protesting workers—joined by employees. local elected officials. and leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union—held their rally ahead of the closure of the unionized Apple Towson Town Center. Towson was the first Apple Store to unionize. and workers say that history helps explain why Apple included it in a trio of stores scheduled to close.
Apple says it is shutting three stores, pointing to declining retail conditions in the malls where they operate. Along with Towson, Apple is closing Apple North County in Escondido, California, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.
The dispute is over what happens next.
Employees at the two non-union locations are automatically being offered transfers to other stores. Towson staff, however, are not being offered the same automatic transfer option. Instead, they must apply for positions at other Apple Stores.
Apple says this difference comes down to the terms of the contract negotiated with unions. According to Apple, the contract mandates severance on store closure.
At the rally, Apple store worker Eric Brown spoke to reporters. He rejected the idea that the transfer rules are connected to severance. “Apple offers severance to all of their employees, not just what we negotiate,” Brown said. “So to say that it’s based on the severance is just false.”
Brown wasn’t alone on the steps. Council members and union representatives joined him, including IAM International President Brian Bryant, who called the move retaliation. “[This] is retaliation plain and simple,” Bryant said. “Shame on you, Apple.”
The argument over Towson sits inside a broader fight over unionization at Apple. Apple has previously been accused of illegal anti-union practices, and head of retail Deirdre O’Brien has spoken publicly against unionization. In earlier comments, O’Brien said the relationship between Apple and its store staff could be “fundamentally changed” if they unionize. She added that she worried about what it would mean to “put another organization in the middle of our relationship. ” describing an organization she said does not have a deep understanding of Apple or Apple’s business and “most importantly” does not share Apple’s commitment to staff.
O’Brien took over as head of retail and people for Apple in 2019. Tim Cook praised the appointment at the time, saying, “Deirdre deeply understands Apple’s unique culture and that people join Apple to do the best work of their lives.”
Yet in practice, workers say union momentum has only grown. In 2022. Brown—who later returned as a key voice at this May 27 rally—offered a harsh snapshot of the relationship between Apple and store employees. “It’s like writing a letter to Santa,” he said. “Pretty much just like an empty slot that leads to a fire pit.”.
Apple says it “strongly disagree[s]” with the discrimination claims. But Apple has reportedly not responded to an open letter from local elected officials.
The sequence is stark: Apple is closing three stores tied to mall conditions. but only Towson—which unionized first—faces a different path afterward. Transfers are automatic for employees at the other two locations. while Towson staff must apply. and Apple points to union contract terms as the reason. Workers and IAM leaders counter that the mismatch is retaliation.
Whether the difference is contractual or discriminatory is now being argued in the open, in front of a courthouse—on a day meant to force Apple to address what Towson employees fear: that union status may decide how easily they can land on their feet after a shutdown.
Apple store closure Towson Town Center unionized Apple store IAM Union International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers anti-union discrimination Deirdre O'Brien Eric Brown Brian Bryant store transfers
Apple really gonna act like it’s “contract” but somehow workers get less? weird.
So basically Towson got singled out? I don’t get why they can’t just auto-transfer everyone the same. Seems like discrimination for sure but Apple will spin it as “declining malls” 🙄
Wait is the union making them close the store? Like if workers unionize then Apple punishes them by shutting it down? That’s what it sounds like to me but idk I just saw the headline.
Apple says the transfers depend on the contract with unions… but aren’t they still required to treat people fairly? Also why is it only Towson getting the “apply” thing, that part makes it look shady. If the other two stores are offering automatic transfers then yeah seems like they’re trying to make union workers jump through hoops. I’m not even mad about unions or anti-unions, just looks like poor treatment to me.