Airbus labor dispute faces legal hurdle as court suspends worker referendum

Airbus Spain is attempting to resolve a prolonged labor dispute through a worker referendum scheduled for September 24 and 25. The proposed agreement, reached following mediation by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, includes a cumulative wage increase of 7.95% through 2029, tied to inflation (IPC). The package also features a one-time €2,000 gross payment to compensate for the ‘April Effect’ and maintains current teleworking policies.

The referendum aims to provide a definitive vote for employees across various Spanish sites, including Getafe, Seville, and Cádiz. While major unions such as CCOO, ATP, and SIPA support the proposal, others like UGT have expressed a positive view of the improvements while emphasizing that the final decision rests with the workers.

However, the voting process faces legal challenges. A court has issued a precautionary suspension of the referendum following a lawsuit by the CGT union. This judicial intervention may force Airbus to postpone the vote, potentially delaying the resolution of the indefinite strike that has impacted the company’s operations.