Kenneth Quinnell

Workers at the first unionized Apple Store in the country ratified a new contract after a year and a half of bargaining. The contract covers about 85 workers at a Towson, Maryland, store and will provide a typical worker with a raise of roughly 10% over the next three years. The workers also will effectively receive the same benefits as those in nonunion stores and guaranteed severance pay. The workers are members of the Machinists (IAM). They voted to authorize a strike in May, but the two sides came to an agreement that prevented the need for an actual strike.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 members at Hanover Foods ratified a new contract, narrowly avoiding a strike. The three-year contract was approved by a two-to-one margin. In the new contract, workers will remain on the union-sponsored healthcare plan, will transition to a new pension plan, will receive 3-5% wage increases in the first year of the contract, up to 5% in the second and third years, and workers with more than 20 years of service will see additional vacation time.