Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 18 Pro officially went on sale worldwide Friday, but launch day in Italy was marked by a nationwide strike involving more than 1,600 Apple Store employees.
Workers across 17 Apple stores in Italy were affected by the strike, according to unions representing employees.
Protests were organized outside several stores, including Apple’s flagship location in central Milan, where workers demonstrated as customers lined up to purchase the company’s latest iPhone.
The unions say employees are facing worsening working conditions and increased workloads, particularly during major product launches when Apple stores experience heavy customer traffic.
Workers are demanding additional hiring, more permanent contracts for fixed-term employees and the opportunity for part-time employees to work additional hours.
Apple responded by saying its Italian retail and online stores remained open and were operating normally.
The company also said it provides employees with competitive compensation and benefits, including medical coverage and wellness support.
The strike comes on one of Apple’s biggest product days of the year.
Sales of the iPhone 18 Pro launched worldwide on September 18 after the device was unveiled the previous week.
In Italy, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at €1,489, equivalent to roughly $1,710 at current exchange rates cited by Reuters.
Apple is also preparing another major product launch.
The company recently unveiled the Apple Duo, its first foldable smartphone, which is scheduled to reach the market on October 23.
The combination of a major iPhone launch and a high-profile employee strike has put unusual attention on Apple’s retail operations at the same time millions of consumers worldwide are looking at its newest devices.