The indefinite strike of Airbus España continues after the majority of workers from the company's main centers rejected on Monday to suspend the mobilizations. The conflict mainly revolves around the economic and labor conditions that must govern the next agreement between the company and the unions.
The workforce from Getafe, San Pablo, and Tablada has voted to maintain the strikes, while Illescas opted on Friday to suspend them. Albacete and Cádiz have committed to follow the majority result.
The decision comes while Airbus keeps on the table a proposal that includes salary improvements and modifications to several labor conditions.
What does Airbus propose regarding salaries?
One of the main points of the offer is linking salaries to the real CPI.
The proposal also includes a recovery of 7.6% of purchasing power, according to the information provided by the company and collected by Europa Press.
The economic approach is part of a broader offer with which Airbus seeks to close the conflict. However, the company has established a prior condition: the formal application of the agreement requires the immediate cancellation or suspension of the strike.
Therefore, although there is a proposal on the table, the continuation of the strikes keeps its application blocked under the terms proposed by management.
Telecommuting: the current agreement remains
Another of the elements included in the proposal affects telecommuting.
Airbus agrees to fully maintain the current agreement and respect the individual agreements that have already been signed with the workers.
The non-presential modality would retain, according to the offer, a limit of 40% of the workday.
This point means that the company would not apply the changes it had initially proposed on this matter and would maintain the framework currently agreed upon with the workforce.
Holidays: two mandatory weeks and two flexible
The proposal also modifies the company's initial position on holidays.
Airbus agrees to keep the previous holiday model, with two weeks of mandatory holidays and another two flexible weeks.
The specific calendar for these flexible weeks would be agreed upon individually with each manager.
The correction is part of the labor elements incorporated into the company's latest proposal to try to bridge positions with the unions.
What happens with absenteeism?
Another relevant point is the system used to control absenteeism.
Airbus confirms in its proposal the halt of the Bradford system, used to measure work absences.
In addition, the company proposes to return the deductions made in the payrolls as a consequence of this system within a maximum period of two months after the ratification of the agreement.
The proposal also includes the creation of a joint working group, with representation from the company and workers, to negotiate a new absenteeism prevention system.
Why does the strike continue?
Despite these advances proposed by management, the majority of workers who voted this Monday have decided to maintain the strike.
The result was clear: 81.2% voted in favor of continuing the stoppages, compared to 16.4% who voted to suspend them, with a 2.4% abstention.
The conflict affects several of Airbus's main centers in Spain, although the voting results have not been identical in all of them.
The company has also warned of the consequences that the strike is having on its activity. Airbus considers that the situation is "critical" for its business and claims to have received messages of concern from clients and other stakeholders.
A new mediation to try to unlock the conflict
The next opportunity to bring positions closer will come this Tuesday with a new mediation meeting before the SIMA.
The company will attend with its latest proposal, while the union representation maintains the strike following the voting results.
The main point of tension is that Airbus links the formal application of its offer to the suspension or cancellation of the stoppages, while the workers have decided to continue with the mobilization.
The meeting this Tuesday will therefore be another attempt to find an agreement that allows for an end to the conflict and the recovery of ordinary activity in the affected centers.