BNR – As the iPhone 15 is unveiled, unions representing workers at Apple stores across France have declared a strike. Their primary demands include improved pay and working conditions.
Unions, including CGT, Unsa, CFDT, and Cidre-CFTC, representing Apple employees in France, have jointly called for a 7% wage increase.
They argue that the increase aims to counteract inflation and an end to a months-long halt in hiring.
4.5% Increase Offer
However, management’s offer has fallen short of demands, with an offer of a 4.5% wage increase, according to union officials.
The company’s French branch not issued a response to these demands.
CGT Apple Retail made an announcement in a statement they shared on X (formerly Twitter). They said, “Management having decided to ignore our perfectly legitimate demands and concerns, the four unions of Apple Retail France …call for a strike on Sept. 22 and 23.”
Strike calls have also garnered support from representatives of Apple France’s corporate division and Apple’s Barcelona team in Spain.
To amplify their message, the unions have encouraged workers to gather for a demonstration near Apple’s flagship Paris store.
Strike Expands to all Apple Stores
A union official from CGT Apple Retail revealed that the strike has been extended to Apple’s 20 stores in France.
Notably, Apple boasts nine stores in Paris, including three in the city’s centre, in addition to two stores in Lyon. Other cities featuring Apple stores include Marseille, Lille, and Strasbourg.
The union official further highlighted a recent teleconference with Apple’s European leadership. During the conference, workers’ concerns were met with a response of, “You are doing pretty well, do not complain.”
This strike follows a recent setback for the iPhone maker in France, with the government suspending sales of iPhone 12 devices due to alleged breaches of radiation exposure limits.
The company has pledged to address the issue by updating the software on iPhone 12 in France, though concerns in other European countries suggest it may need to take similar action on a broader scale.
