Airbus Employees Launch Strike Across Spain Over Working Conditions and Pay
Overview of the Airbus Strike in Spain
By Emma Pinedo and Charlie Devereux
Reasons Behind the Strike
MADRID, July 9 (Reuters) - Employees of aircraft maker Airbus have gone on strike across most of Spain until the end of July over what unions describe as deteriorating working conditions.
Workers are protesting over issues including sub-inflation pay rises, tighter attendance monitoring and requirements for office staff to spend more time on site, the Independent Union of Aviation Professionals (SIPA) said in a statement.
Context: Airbus Delivery Targets and Previous Protests
Airbus, which is under pressure to meet its annual delivery target of 870 jets while grappling with supply-chain constraints, already faced stoppages and protests in France last month after reducing the number of days white-collar staff could work remotely.
Union Involvement and Escalation
Spread of the Strike
The strike, called by SIPA on July 1, initially gained support at Airbus's Getafe plant near Madrid before spreading to other sites and attracting backing from additional unions, a union leader said.
CCOO's Position and Potential Future Action
CCOO, Airbus's largest union in Spain, has not joined the action but said on Facebook it would call an indefinite strike from September 7 if its demands were not met.
Potential Impact on Airbus Operations
"If no agreement is reached, delivery schedules will be seriously affected by the strike and the industrial action taking place during the final four months of the year at all Airbus Spain sites," CCOO said.
Airbus Operations in Spain
Airbus employs more than 14,000 people in Spain across eight sites in Madrid, Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia, where it produces military transport planes and parts for commercial aircraft and satellites. Getafe is the company's third-largest site worldwide, according to Airbus's website.
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo and Charlie Devereux. Editing by Mark Potter)
