Around 50 employees at Gucci went on strike on strike on Monday over the fashion brand’s decision to move its design office from Italy’s capital to Milan.

According to Reuters, Gucci shared the news with unions in October and plans to make the move in March next year.

Gucci, which is owned by the French-based luxury goods group Kering, said that, 153 of 219 employees based in Rome would have to relocate to Milan, a distance of around 311 miles.

Unions have criticised the move, saying the real goal is to cut staff numbers.

A spokesperson for Gucci told Reutuers that the relocation would not involve any reduction in staff numbers. "With the relocation to Milan, the creative director and the different teams involved will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with the strategic functions of the company already based in the city, thus maximizing the necessary interactions and synergies,” the spokesperson said.

Retail Systems has reached out to Gucci for comment.

Earlier this year, a Gucci site in Milan was reportedly being inspected as part of an EU anti-trust inquiry in relation to its production of items including handbags and other leather goods.

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