Airbus faces a new strike: a conflict that erupted over telecommuting and has revealed a wave of dissatisfaction

Airbus faces another strike as a labor conflict escalates over remote work policies, revealing widespread dissatisfaction among its workforce. The dispute, which began this summer, has exceeded expectations not just for the company’s management but also for the trade unions involved. What started with a seemingly minor issue, the reduction of remote work options, has uncovered deeper frustrations regarding wages and other working conditions. Workers are set to vote on whether to launch an indefinite strike starting Tuesday, February 25, during a crucial assembly meeting. In the past week, Airbus has made several proposals to the unions, UGT, CGT, and Útil, that have been calling for these new strikes. After multiple sit-ins at the company's offices, representatives from the unions spent the entire day on Friday negotiating with the company through the mediation body SIMA. According to sources within CGT and UGT, Airbus has shown openness to some of the workers' demands, including ensuring salary increases aligned with inflation and accelerating the recovery of lost purchasing power. Other claims remain open for future negotiation, beginning on February 25. Mediators have suggested temporarily suspending the strike to create a more favorable environment for dialogue. Airbus continues to emphasize negotiations under a climate of calm and social peace. These points will be discussed at the upcoming worker assemblies, which will decide whether to resume or continue the strikes. The outbreak of the conflict must be understood against the backdrop of record profits for Airbus. In 2025, the company earned €5.221 billion, a 23% increase compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of 2026, profits rose further by 47%, reaching €2.243 billion. Gustavo Retamosa, spokesperson for CGT in Airbus Getafe, notes that Airbus is in the best financial position in its history. While its competitor Boeing struggles, Airbus has consistently posted record profits year after year. This growth is partly attributed to the surge in defense-related orders. Meanwhile, employees have experienced a decline in their purchasing power due to wage increases failing to keep pace with inflation. Other working conditions have also worsened, both through collective agreements and unilateral decisions by the company. For instance, the reduction of sick leave benefits was introduced as a measure against absenteeism. Additionally, the company imposed specific vacation dates and cut back on remote work, which became the final straw for many workers. According to SIPA, a union representative, the situation reached a breaking point in July. The frustration led to a call for action, forcing the unions into strike actions. Retamosa emphasizes that this is a social movement driven by workers who have decided they can go no further. He describes it as a movement that compelled the unions to take to the streets. Edmundo Otero, representing UGT in the company, highlights key demands such as restoring inflation-linked salary increases, recovering lost purchasing power, reinstating remote work, regaining control over vacation scheduling, and reversing the cuts to sick leave benefits. Some of these measures were previously deemed illegal by the National Court following a complaint from UGT. However, Airbus appealed the ruling before the Supreme Court. The current mobilization cannot be viewed as a result of a single decision, according to Otero. It reflects a broader discontent that has grown over time, fueled by ongoing economic pressures and perceived unfair treatment by the company. As the situation develops, the outcome of the upcoming assemblies will determine the next steps in this evolving labor conflict.