Apple's Italian Store Workers Strike on iPhone 18 Pro Launch Day

06:28 AM EDT, 09/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Apple's (AAPL) Italian store employees staged a strike over working conditions on the same day as the launch of iPhone18 Pro, the latest version of its flagship smartphone, according to multiple media reports on Friday. Italian trade unions Filcams CGIL, Fisascat CISL, and Uiltucs said their members would not work for the entire day and would picket outside the tech giant's major stores in Rome, Milan and other cities, according to Reuters. The unions are demanding more hiring, the transition of fixed-term employees to permanent contracts, and the option for part-time staff to work longer hours. The strike involved more than 1,600 employees across 17 Apple stores, Reuters added. Apple did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.