Airbus Unions In France Announce Strike

French Airbus employees union will hold a protest today against this company`s restructuring of business

As unions CGT and Force Ouvrier announced, employees called for a cease of work from 9 until 13 hours on Tuesday, before the this company`s European workers` council meeting.

As a part of the Power 8 restructuration plan, announced at the end of February, Airbus plans to refer 10,000 dismissals throughout Europe with the aim of saving 5 billion euro by 2010.

-We treat the workers` council with caution and intent to continue with the pressures- said Fore Ouvriere representative in the workers` council, Jean-Francois Knepper.

-The management will present Airbus and EADS`s financial situation, as well as the implementation of Power 8- he added.

But, two minority unions - CFE-CGC and CFTC – decided to oppose joining in this action, warning that making such a firm stand at this moment would harm the company.

-It is too early to start these actions. We still do not know the details of the restructuration plan. We prefer to first discuss its every item- said Denis Bertrand of the CFE-CGC.

Gilbert Plo of the CFTC pointed out that Airbus cannot afford any moves at the moment which would block production. – We do not wish to close the doors to negotiations- he said.

In Toulouse, where the company`s French headquarters are, some 15,000 Airbus employees protested on March 6, while 2,000 protested in Nantes, Saint Nazaire and Meaultes factories. Ten days later, mass protests were held in northern Germany, southern Spain and France, in a rare protest  with unified cross border union opposition to the restructuring plan, which this company holds to be key for its salvation.