Airbus workers in Spain resume strike after rejecting pay offer

Investing.com -- Thousands of Airbus SE workers in Spain returned to strike action this week after turning down the company's latest pay proposal and mediation offer, unions said Wednesday.

Unions reported that approximately 90% of eligible workers participated in Tuesday's work stoppage, marking the beginning of what they describe as an indefinite strike following 22 days of industrial action in July.

French unions familiar with the situation said the three striking Spanish unions represent about 40% of Airbus Spain's roughly 14,000 employees. The number of workers participating could not be independently verified.

The strike began after workers voted at plant-level assemblies to reject a pay and conditions proposal the company presented at a mediation session on Friday. A new mediation meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

Unions said the company's offer lacked firm timelines and financial commitments, and postponed key issues including holidays, flexible hours and transport arrangements.

Airbus has frozen planned hiring in Spain for the duration of the strike, according to Alfonso Mora, head of the Airbus works council in Spain. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Union representatives for UGT and CGT said the stoppage has already slowed military and commercial production and would make it more difficult for the company to meet its delivery target. Airbus is under pressure to reach its annual delivery goal of 870 jets. The company said last week that disruption to administrative and support functions had not yet affected production.

Workers are demanding inflation-linked pay increases, the restoration of previous remote-working arrangements and sick-leave benefits. Airbus has already modified plans to reduce remote working following July's protests, allowing staff to continue working from home an average of two days per week.

Airbus operates eight sites in Spain that produce military transport planes and parts for commercial aircraft and satellites.

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