Aircraft

Employees at Airbus’ French sites have staged a further half-day walkout today in protest against the manufacturer’s Power8 restructuring plan, although cracks are beginning to emerge in union solidarity.

Workers represented by the CGT and FO unions are campaigning against site closures, outsourcing and job cuts contained within the Power8 initiative.

Both unions urged their members to observe a walkout between 09:00 and 13:00 today.

The CGT labels the Power8 scheme as unacceptable and says: “For the CGT, the top priority is to fight the plan. This battle will not be effective without the strongest employee unity, in France and in Europe.”

But two minority unions, the CGC and CFTC, decided not to strike so that they could enter negotiations with the manufacturer.

CGC representative Denis Bertrand says: “It is too soon to jump into hard action. We do not know the detail of Power8 yet. We would prefer first of all to discuss things point by point. It is urgent that we know the details.”

FO says Power8 has heavy consequences for the future. “It is for this reason that we must react by striking, rather than by submitting", says the union. "It is dangerous for the future of Airbus to give the impression that all the employees and all the unions have bought Power8".

FO adds that the protest has been timed to take place before Airbus’ committee meeting tomorrow. An Airbus spokesman was unable to give immediate details of the impact of the action.