Airbus softens return-to-office mandate after Spanish strikes, sources say
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Airbus has watered down a drive to reduce remote working after protests from unions including a series of strikes in its Spanish facilities, people familiar with the matter said. Managers have been told they can allow staff to maintain existing arrangements that allow them to work at home an average of two days a week, effectively suspending the bid to introduce a mandatory limit of one day. The retreat deals a blow to a high-profile campaign led by CEO Guillaume Faury to draw staff back to the office.
Key Facts
- Airbus has suspended a plan to require white-collar staff to work on-site four days a week by September, instead allowing an average of two remote days per week.
- Spanish workers have staged on-off strikes since July, with approximately 40% of Airbus's 14,000 Spanish employees participating, according to unions.
- CEO Guillaume Faury told staff in June that home-working had been a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic but that now the opposite was the case as Airbus sought to ensure skills were shared in person.
- Three Spanish unions have called for a three-hour stoppage on Monday to vote on a longer walkout.
- Aircraft production has not been affected by the Spanish protests, according to the company.
Return-to-Office Reversal
Airbus has watered down a drive to reduce remote working after protests from unions including a series of strikes in its Spanish facilities, people familiar with the matter said. Managers have been told they can allow staff to maintain existing arrangements that allow them to work at home an average of two days a week, effectively suspending the bid to introduce a mandatory limit of one day, the people said. An Airbus spokesperson said the company's objective remains increased on-site presence to ensure better collective efficiency, knowledge transfer and faster decision-making, but that effective change requires listening to employees. Shares in Airbus dipped 0.4% in a slightly firmer market.
Union Pressure and Strikes
Many Spanish workers have been staging on-off strikes since July, and there have been sporadic protests in France over plans by Airbus to force white-collar staff to work on-site four days a week by September, rather than the current three. In Spain, approximately 40% of Airbus's 14,000 workers have taken part in strikes over issues including teleworking, transport, holidays and salary, according to unions. Three Spanish unions have called for a three-hour stoppage on Monday to vote on a longer walkout. Production has not so far been affected by disruption to white-collar ancillary functions.
CEO Faury's Campaign
The retreat on office-working deals a blow to a high-profile campaign led by CEO Guillaume Faury to draw staff back to the office as the industry seeks to meet record demand and prepare new products with thousands of relatively new staff. Faury told staff in June that home-working had been a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic when the priority was minimising contact, but that now the opposite was the case as Airbus sought to ensure skills were shared in person. Tens of thousands of people have left the aerospace industry since COVID-19 and between 25% and one third of Airbus's staff have joined the company in the past three years, according to French unions.
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Airbus softens return-to-office mandate after Spanish strikes, sources say
