Alexander McQueen workers strike over Kering's job cuts and secrecy

Frustrated by silence and layoffs, Alexander McQueen staff take to the streets. Will Kering's profit push backfire as unions demand answers?

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2026 May 8 . 6:19 AM

1 min read

The image shows a Massimo Dutti store in Milan, Italy. Inside the store, there are mannequins... — The image shows a Massimo Dutti store in Milan, Italy. Inside the store, there are mannequins wearing the latest fashion, as well as other objects such as boards with text, lights on the ceiling, and doors. The floor is visible at the bottom of the image.

Alexander McQueen workers strike over Kering's job cuts and secrecy

Workers at Alexander McQueen are preparing to strike over planned job cuts and a lack of transparency around Kering’s restructuring. The protest, set for 20 May, follows the company’s refusal to discuss its 'ReconKering' plan, which includes laying off 54 employees in Italy. Unions have called for demonstrations in Florence and other locations as tensions rise. In March, Alexander McQueen confirmed plans to cut 54 jobs out of its 181-strong workforce in Italy. The move comes as part of Kering’s broader 'ReconKering' strategy, unveiled by CEO Luca de Meo in April. This long-term roadmap, stretching to 2030, aims to restore profitability across the group’s struggling brands.

The luxury brand has faced financial difficulties, largely due to losses from aggressive global store expansion and an over-reliance on sneaker sales. Under the new plan, underperforming labels—including Alexander McQueen—have two years to turn a profit. Meanwhile, Kering has begun collective redundancy procedures for the Italian workforce. Unions Filctem Cgil, Femca Cisl, and Uiltec Uil have demanded the withdrawal of the layoffs and a clear explanation of the 'ReconKering' relaunch. With no dialogue from management, all Kering Group companies in Italy will join the strike on 20 May. The protest follows the departure of Sarah Burton, Alexander McQueen’s former creative director, who now leads Givenchy.

The strike will disrupt operations at Kering’s Italian branches, including Alexander McQueen. Workers are pushing back against job cuts while seeking clarity on the company’s future direction. The outcome of the protest could influence how Kering implements its restructuring plan across other brands.