Tensions are mounting at Gucci as a group of employees express fear and concern over their transfer from Rome to Milan. They believe that this move is actually a disguised collective dismissal, as 153 out of 219 employees are affected, marking the first-ever strike in the brand’s history. To protest against the mandated transfer, the employees halted their activities for four hours on Monday. Last October, Gucci, the flagship brand of French group Kering, announced that its style office responsible for designing and leading all collections would be relocated from Rome to Milan.
Chiara Giannotti, the union representative for the brand, explained that the employees fear that Kering is using this restructuring as an opportunity to reduce the workforce and dismiss employees on unsatisfactory terms or those who are unable to leave Rome due to their families and children. The unions are also concerned about the fate of the remaining 66 employees in Rome, fearing that they too may face a disguised collective dismissal.
In response to the growing concerns, Gucci management released a statement addressing the transfer. They emphasized that the announcement was made to the unions in October and assured that there would be no reduction in staff. They further stated that the relocation would be carried out in full compliance with existing regulations.
Amidst this unrest, Gucci is also undergoing a global restructuring process. In July, CEO Marco Bizzarri, who had been leading the brand since January 2015, announced his departure. Additionally, creative director Alessandro Michele left the fashion house a year earlier, and his replacement, Sabato de Sarno, will take over from January 2023. The objective behind these changes is to revitalize Gucci’s growth, which has been slowing down since 2022, particularly in the Chinese market due to the impacts of the zero-Covid policy.
Alongside the internal restructuring, the parent company, Kering, has appointed Francesca Bellettini, the CEO of Yves Saint Laurent, as Deputy CEO of Kering in charge of Maison Development.
Useful links related to the article:
– Official Gucci Website
– Kering Official Website
