Clearly, the commercial launch of the iPhone 15 is facing headwinds in France. Apple’s official presentation was first disrupted by the withdrawal from the market of an old model, the iPhone 12, as a health precaution. The National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has noted that the smartphone emits electromagnetic waves that are too powerful, above the thresholds established by the European Union.
From now on, it is the Apple Stores which should be the subject of a social movement this Friday September 22, launch day of the iPhone 15, as well as Saturday 23. As specified Release, the Apple Retail unions in France intend to make this commercial release a sounding board for their demands. Employees could mobilize in three quarters of the Apple firm’s French stores, promises a representative of the CGT.
Salary negotiations getting bogged down
In question, obligatory annual negotiations (NAO) which are bogged down and stumble on the increase in salaries. The inter-union (CGT, Unsa, CFDT, Cidre-CFTC) has been demanding, for several weeks, an increase in remuneration of 7%, in order to take into account inflation. For its part, management would propose a boost of 4.5% and an increase in the price of meal vouchers of one euro.
The other claims relate, always according to Release“ on the end of the recruitment freeze in Apple Stores, an alignment of corporate benefits for all employees, without distinction, and a redefinition of the group’s long-term strategic vision.
On its site, the CGT Apple Retail also discusses the negotiation on working hours which was delayed for several months with the question of weekly rest days and work on Sundays in mind. The union is calling for two consecutive days of rest, a move to 32 hours paid 35 hours over four or five days at the employee’s choice and an increase in salary on Saturdays (paid at 125%), the day with the greatest influence in stores.
A priori, customers will not be prevented from buying the iPhone 15 this weekend but will have to be patient to enter the stores, warns a union representative. If it is not heard and management sticks to its positions, the inter-union does not rule out continuing the strike action over the following weekends.