Dispute over Airbus subsidiary Premium Aerotec escalates

The corporate management reacted indignantly to the announcement. Airbus boss Guillaume Faury spoke up personally. In the past 20 months, the Airbus employees “showed an incredible commitment and remarkable solidarity to carry Airbus through an unprecedented crisis in the corona pandemic,” the top manager wrote to the German employees. And added with clear words: “The fact that this enormous collective effort is now being called into question by blocking activities is inappropriate and disrespectful to all those who give so much for Airbus every day.”

The mutual attacks show: The conflict over Premium Aerotec is deadlocked. And that a few weeks before the start of the new year, in which the Airbus management actually already wants to start the new structure. Faury and his colleagues want to realign parts production. The planned renovation would have massive effects on the German workforce. A total of around 13,000 employees would be affected.

Specifically, the management wants to outsource the production of individual parts and small components in Augsburg, Varel and Romania and look for an investor for this. Although Airbus still needs these parts, their production is no longer part of its core business. In contrast, the assembly of aircraft fuselages and structures is to be consolidated in a new subsidiary and more closely linked to the group.

The plan thus not only affects Premium Aerotec, but also the so-called Airbus Operations. Faury hopes that this will result in greater efficiency and hopes to be able to develop completely new aircraft types with new engines faster and better in the future.

Union warns of failures when ramping up production

This is exactly what IG Metall doubts. The employee representatives certainly see a need for action in the Group’s own supplier area, but vehemently oppose a division of the plants. According to what one hears, none of the investors who have contacted us so far have presented clear plans as to how the positions and capacity utilization of the split-off plants can be secured, complained Friedrich.

In addition, the negotiator misses clear commitments as to what part the German plants should have in the production of new, planned aircraft types. “The investments of 1.5 billion euros promised by Airbus will primarily secure the important ramp-up. That is right as well. But there is little in it for future aircraft models, ”said the IG Metall district manager.

At the same time, the management did not keep promises from previous negotiations, and in some cases withdrew them, according to Friedrich. Airbus is not ready to conclude a fair future package for all employees and locations: “If we do not come to a solution in a timely manner, we will run into a major conflict.”

This would be extremely unfavorable for the European aviation group. Airbus is in the process of ramping up production that was curbed during the pandemic. While 40 A320 Family jets were built per month in the middle of the crisis, there are currently 45 again. By the end of next year there should be 60. A collective bargaining conflict with labor disputes lasting for weeks or even months would seriously endanger this ramp-up.

This also explains the clear reaction from Airbus boss Faury. So far, there is no serious reason that would justify the call for a warning strike, he writes to the employees. The letter is also signed by the chairman of the supervisory board of the German Airbus Operations GmbH, Mike Schöllhorn. Both refer to the extensive guarantees, for example in terms of working conditions, job security and investments.

More: One-time crisis, one-time measures: When it comes to aircraft construction, Airbus and its suppliers should pull together