More than 1,600 employees at all 17 Apple stores in Italy staged a one-day strike over working conditions on Sept. 18, 2026, the iPhone 18 Pro’s global launch day. Three unions organized pickets in Milan and Rome; Apple said its stores would operate normally.
The unions called for more hires, fixed-term contracts to be converted to permanent jobs, and extra hours for part-time employees who want them. They said product launches increase workloads and cited confusing job descriptions and inadequate attention to workers’ well-being.
