Apple Store employees across Italy went on strike on September 18, coinciding with the first day of sales for the iPhone 18 Pro. The action involves workers at all 17 Apple Stores in the country and puts a labor dispute in the spotlight during one of Apple’s highest-profile retail days.
Filcams CGIL, Fisascat CISL and Uiltucs represent more than 1,600 Apple Retail Italia employees behind the action. Apple said its stores remained open and were operating normally, while the unions used the launch-day timing to draw attention to their demands.
- Additional staffing in Apple Stores.
- More permanent employment contracts.
- Less pressure on productivity.
- More working hours for part-time employees who want them.
The iPhone 18 Pro was unveiled on September 9 and is powered by Apple’s 2nm A20 Pro chip. Its main camera also introduces a variable-aperture system. In Italy, the handset starts at €1,489.
Apple retail workers in France also chose an iPhone launch period for a similar protest in 2023, during the iPhone 15 rollout. Negotiations in Italy are continuing, leaving the next development in the staffing and contract dispute unresolved.
