Unions representing workers at Apple stores in France have announced a strike set for Friday and Saturday, coinciding with the highly anticipated iPhone 15 launch.
The unions are demanding improved pay and working conditions, citing management’s failure to address their concerns.
In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), CGT Apple Retail, one of the four participating unions, stated, “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.”
Apple’s new iPhone 15 Pro Max is experiencing significant demand in various countries, including China, Japan, and the United States.
As a result, customers in these regions may face delays in receiving their pre-ordered smartphones, with some waiting until November for delivery.
This strong demand serves as a positive indicator for Apple, especially following a decline in iPhone sales during the June quarter amid challenges in the global smartphone market.
In China, customers are looking at a four-to-five-week wait for the Pro Max, which could help alleviate concerns about Apple’s performance in its third-largest market.
Additionally, competition from Huawei and increased restrictions on iPhone use by government staff in Beijing have created a challenging landscape for the tech giant.
The wait time is slightly shorter for the iPhone 15 Pro in China, with a two-to-three-week delivery estimate.
In the United States, customers will need to be patient, as the wait for the Pro Max is projected to be six to seven weeks.
This delay is also reflective of strong demand for the most expensive model in the iPhone 15 lineup, which was recently launched.
Japan mirrors the U.S. in terms of the wait time for the Pro Max at five to six weeks.
However, the wait is notably shorter for the Pro model, with a delivery period of just two to three weeks for the 128GB version in both the U.S. and Japan.
Analysts speculate that these extended wait times could be attributed to initial supply constraints, particularly in securing the displays used in the Pro Max, which feature thinner bezels compared to previous iPhone models.
