Strike breaks out as Gucci workers in Rome protest against relocation of creative office
28 Nov 2023
Gucci fashion house in Rome, Italy, saw an unprecedented strike by their employees on Monday, 27 November 2023. This strike was a result of the fashion giant’s decision to move its design house from Rome to Milan, Italy.
This decision to move was conveyed to the unions on October 2023. This decision involved the transfer of 153 of the 219 employees to Milan, which is about 500 kilometers (311 miles) to the north of Rome. This transfer is scheduled to be completed by March 2024.
The regional office of CGIL, an Italian labor union, stated that Gucci’s decision to shift was not supported due to some specific reasons. They further stated that Gucci is using this transfer to Milan as a pretext to reduce staff.
On the contrary, a Gucci spokesperson stated that this transfer won’t involve any staff reductions.
He mentioned that with the relocation to Milan, the creative director and the various teams involved would have the opportunity to collaborate closely with the strategic functions of the company already based in the city. He further explained that this move would maximize the necessary interactions and synergies.
Since the departure of Alessandro Michele in 2020, Kering, which owns Gucci, has made some strategic changes in the label’s top management in its quest to reignite sales at its largest fashion brand.
