Toulouse. Airbus employees on strike for better pay: “Inflation is now!”
By Thibaut Calatayud
Published on
The strike is not just about refineries and fuel depots. At the house of Airbus Also, employees of Toulouse manifest since Tuesday, October 18. Also to claim a salary increase.
A mobilization supervised by the CGT
The protest takes place on the A320 Final Assembly Line (FAL) and brings together unionized and non-unionized employees. Solicited by Toulouse NewsAirbus says a “small number” of its employees are on strike.
The mobilization is “supervised” (but not organized directly) by the CGT, the European aircraft manufacturer’s fourth union in terms of representativeness. “We are here to lend a hand”, we slip on the side of the union organization.
The strikers, who are campaigning for a 10% increaseurging the rest of the employees to join the movement: “It’s your turn to go on strike and join us for a general assembly on Thursday October 20 at 2 p.m. in front of the southern entrance to the M91 (an Airbus hangar, editor’s note)”.
Insufficient wages in the face of inflation?
Are the salaries offered by Airbus, an aeronautics giant that has rebounded despite the Covid crisis, insufficient? This is in any case what is estimated at the CGT. “Three weeks ago, I spoke with a young painter hired at the coefficient 190. He earns exactly 1,490 euros net. Without the bonuses, because he is paid by the day”, testifies Patrick Brisset, secretary general of the CGT Airbus Operations.
For the strikers, the salary increase of 6.8% on average over two years – it had been acquired, in March 2022, during the mandatory annual negotiation (NAO) and accepted by the FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC unions – is no longer sufficient in the face of galloping inflation.
According to them, it is necessary to sit down at the negotiating table to review wages upwards. The agreement signed by the three main unions (but not by the CGT) already provides for a return clause : in February 2023. A deadline far too late for the strikers. “What the guys are saying is inflation is now! When we go to the pump, it’s now! And there, the wages… It’s not right! », exasperated the trade unionist.
Effects on production?
According to Airbus management, this social movement would have no impact on the group’s production activities.
On the other hand, on the side of the CGT, it is indicated that a “demolding” (the moment when the plane must leave the assembly line) has already taken a delay of 24 hours. “It will probably accumulate if the movement continues. It is the employees who decide. But I know they are determined,” warns Patrick Brisset.
The manufacturer, which has just formalized a new order from the low cost company Jet2.comensures that it continues to favor dialogue with the social partners, “in order to take into account the difficult economic situation which affects [ses] employees “.
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