Strike threatens to take shine off iPhone 5 launch in France

PARIS (AFP) - Workers in Apple stores in France may go on strike on Friday - the day of the much-hyped release of the iPhone 5 - if they do not get a pay rise, a union source said.

Negotiations were continuing with management on Thursday for the firm's 1,000 workers across the country to get a 13th month of pay each year - a common perk in France - a monthly pay rise, and lunch vouchers, the source said.

If no deal is reached, the workers may call a strike for Friday which could leave hundreds of French iPhone fans frustrated in their bid to be among the first to snap up the coveted device.

Apple management has resisted pay rises by arguing that the French branch of the firm lost 10 million euros (S$15.9 million) last year.

Gadget lovers have flooded Apple with pre-orders and set up camp outside the company's stores across the world to get their hands on the new generation iPhone 5 set.

Apple said that it received more than two million orders for the new smart phone in the 24 hours after it began pre-sales online on Sept 14.