On August 24, our colleagues in Spain resumed their indefinite strike action, which began in July. On September 10, the strikers’ assemblies decided to pause the strike, but not the movement. To keep up the pressure, a massive demonstration involving all Airbus Spain sites took place on Saturday, September 12 in Madrid, bringing together over 8,000 participants! [banner picture]
The strikers’ initial demands are as follows:
- Catch-up on purchasing power lost in recent years and indexation of Airbus wage policies to inflation (CPI)
- Maintenance of 40% remote work
- Withdrawal of wage penalties for sick leave
- Retention of company bus lines
- Retention of free canteen services
- Summer leave at the discretion of employees
The management’s latest proposals seem insufficient compared to these demands, but they are the result of the workers’ collective strength, making possible what was impossible just yesterday.
Despite threats to off-shore part of the production and the Spanish government’s assistance to divide the strike, the mobilization continues.
This historic strike within the Airbus group is an example to follow across borders.
Social dialogue is merely an illusion used by management to impose its will. The only way to stop the bleed on our purchasing power and the deterioration of our working conditions is to follow the example of our Spanish colleagues.
In France too, there are reasons to take action:
- Wages are stagnating and our purchasing power is falling*1
- The profit-sharing bonus (prime de participation) has been cut in half, while dividends for shareholders are exploding
- Mandatory overtime to meet increased production rates
- The use of temporary workers instead of permanent hiring (CDI) to address chronic understaffing
- Remote work: even though a rollback on mandatory 4 days on-site was announced thanks to the mobilization in Spain, nothing is guaranteed. Management and its proxies are maintaining ambiguity to prevent the movement from spreading to France, and are already « encouraging » certain departments to limit remote work to 1 day per week.
There is money at Airbus, thanks to our work. And management’s targets get more ambitious every year… in favor of shareholders:
- €5 billion in share buybacks and cancellations
- 60% of cash reserves distributed to shareholders
- +70% EBIT target by 2029
Meeting Thursday, September 24
Let’s discuss and exchange ideas about our future and how to achieve our goals!
Come one, come all to the Union Information Meeting (RIS – Réunion d’Information Syndicale) on Thursday, September 24.
For locations, times, and myHR declaration details, consult this page.
CGT union member or not, attending an RIS is your right!
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- Over the 2021–2025 period, for an Airbus Commercial Aircraft employee who received general and individual pay raises (AG+AI) every year (which applies to a tiny minority), we observe a -2% gap over 5 years compared to inflation (HICP – INSEE Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices) over the same period. ↩︎