Italian Apple store employees strike on iPhone18 Pro launch day

Italian retail employees of Apple Inc. staged a nationwide strike on Friday, coinciding with the global launch day of the new iPhone 18 Pro. The industrial action, organized by trade unions Filcams CGIL, Fiascast CISL, and Uiltucs, involved over 1,600 retail workers across 17 flagship Apple stores located in major cities including Rome and Milan. The strike centers on employee dissatisfaction regarding deteriorating working conditions, lack of permanent contracts, and increased workloads tied to customer support during major product cycles. Trade unions are urging Apple to convert fixed-term contracts into permanent positions and allow part-time staff additional hours. Apple defended its working environment, citing comprehensive benefits including private medical, dental, vision, and mental health programs, while confirming that retail locations remained operational. The labor dispute comes at a pivotal time for Apple's hardware cycle, with the iPhone 18 Pro starting at €1,489 in Italy and the newly introduced foldable smartphone, the Duo, scheduled for retail release on October 23.