Unions CCOO, UGT and ATP.SA called for strikes across eight Airbus sites in Spain, spanning Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, and Andalusia. The actions are planned to begin on Monday, October 31, as workers press for a fair salary review aimed at preserving their purchasing power during volatile economic times.
According to the unions, the protests will continue until management commits to safeguarding employees’ purchasing power. The gesture includes a one‑hour stoppage at all Airbus business centers from 12:00 to 13:00 this Thursday, alongside information sessions that will brief staff on the current negotiation phase. CCOO confirmed the mobilization plan and stated that activities would progress in step with talks with the company.
The unions argue that Airbus should recognize the workforce’s contribution amid a backdrop of productive output, with orders, deliveries, and invoices on the rise. They stress that uncertainty should not translate into lower wages for Spanish employees, given the company’s solid financial performance in recent years.
They also point to the company’s profits and results, noting that strong earnings have persisted despite global challenges, even during the coronavirus pandemic. The unions express disappointment with the management’s lack of offers or clear replies to workers in Spain, and emphasize the need for a transparent, reciprocal negotiation process.
Airbus currently employs a substantial number of staff in Spain, distributed across eight factories and involved in core aerospace, defense, and space programs. The company covers design, development, manufacturing, and ongoing support for aircraft and their components, with a sizable portion of the Spanish workforce dedicated to space and defense operations.
Across Spain, the combined space and defense units account for a majority of Airbus’s local employment, with thousands of workers spread over several locations. In commercial aviation, roughly several thousand people are employed in Spain, contributing to manufacturing activities such as components and assemblies for Airbus’s commercial aircraft series, including facilities in Getafe, Illescas, and Puerto Real, among others. Airbus Helicopters, headquartered in Albacete, adds more than a few hundred roles dedicated to rotorcraft engineering and production.
These labor actions occur as unions seek a fair wage framework that protects living standards for Spain’s aerospace workforce, while the company weighs ongoing commercial commitments and project pipelines. Stakeholders will be watching closely how negotiations unfold and what assurances will be offered to preserve real incomes in the face of inflation and market fluctuations. [Source: trade unions and company statements on negotiations and workforce composition.]