Italian Apple Store employees went on strike over their working conditions on Friday, the launch day of the new iPhone 18 Pro. The strike, organized by the Filcams CGIL, Fisascat CISL, and Uiltucs trade unions, runs all day with pickets planned outside some Apple stores. In Milan's city centre, dozens of workers gathered outside Apple's flagship glass-cube store, waving red flags and making noise with whistles and rattles.
The strike affects over 1,600 employees in 17 Apple stores, according to Fisascat CISL. The unions are demanding better working conditions, more employees to be hired, and fixed-term employees to be moved onto permanent contracts. They also want part-time staff to have the option to work longer hours if they so wish. The unions said that the new iPhone launches entail more work for Apple retail staff, whose job descriptions are increasingly confusing and geared towards providing customer care.
An Apple spokesperson said its outlets would operate normally despite the strike. "Our retail and online stores are open today, and we are excited to welcome our customers as usual," the spokesperson said. Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro worldwide on Friday, alongside the Duo, Apple's first foldable smartphone, which is due to hit the market on October 23.
In Italy, retail prices for the iPhone 18 Pro will start from €1,489 ($1,710). The unions said that discussions with staff highlighted a worsening in working conditions without adequate attention being paid to employees' well-being. Nicholas Pezze, a Filcams CGIL union representative, said that image is very important for Apple as a company, and the unions thought this would be the right day to stage an image of protest from the workers they represent.
Apple's spokesperson said the company was "proud to offer industry-leading compensation and benefits", pointing to its private medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as its mental health and wellness support programme. However, the unions claim that this is not enough to address the concerns of the employees.
The strike is a significant move by the unions to draw attention to the working conditions of Apple retail staff. The unions hope that the strike will lead to better working conditions and more benefits for the employees. The strike also highlights the challenges faced by retail staff in the tech industry, where employees are often expected to provide high levels of customer care.
The iPhone 18 Pro launch is a significant event for Apple, and the strike is likely to draw attention to the company's labour practices. The outcome of the strike and the negotiations between the unions and Apple are yet to be seen.
Key points
- Over 1,600 Apple store employees in Italy went on strike over working conditions on the launch day of the iPhone 18 Pro.
- The unions are demanding better working conditions, more employees to be hired, and fixed-term employees to be moved onto permanent contracts.
- Apple said its outlets would operate normally despite the strike, with industry-leading compensation and benefits.
