The decision to initiate an indefinite strike affects all Airbus plants in Spain, following assemblies in Getafe, San Pablo, Tablada, Illescas, and Albacete that voted against suspending the protests. The majority of the workforce had already expressed their rejection of the company's proposal earlier in the day, a stance that was later ratified.
Airbus management has expressed regret over the decision and is currently assessing the impact of the stoppages on production, client commitments, and the company's reputation. The company deems it 'critical' to reach an agreement soon and remains open to continued negotiations.
The labor dispute persists after a mediation attempt on Friday, August 21st, where Airbus presented advancements on key issues such as linking salary increases to the CPI, recovering purchasing power, and improving remote work conditions. The company also expressed willingness to withdraw legal actions concerning temporary disability benefits. While UGT acknowledged progress, they considered the proposal still insufficient.
Matters such as holidays, flexible working hours, canteen services, and collective transport remained to be finalized. The lack of specific deadlines and figures on certain issues influenced the workers' decision. Mediators had proposed postponing the strike to allow for further negotiation, but the majority response was to proceed with the mobilization.
For the Cádiz plant, this episode adds to a conflict that has been ongoing since the summer. Workers previously participated in protests in July following disagreements over salary revisions. An earlier preliminary agreement, which included a 12% global salary review, was rejected by the Airbus workforce.
Subsequent negotiations have addressed specific issues for Cádiz, including the plant's workload, specific labor agreements, and the Bromo project. Management has made changes in the Human Resources department, while unions (UGT, CGT, and ÚTIL) continue to exert pressure.
Despite the strike's commencement, the door to negotiation remains open. The parties agreed to resume daily talks starting Tuesday. Airbus's operations in Spain enter a new phase, and in Cádiz, the workforce will hold its own assembly on September 1st.
