Airbus workers in Getafe have decided in assembly to continue the strike until July 31 and, after the forced holidays, to resume it indefinitely from August 24. They reject the company's latest offer, which they consider insufficient.
The workforce of Airbus in Getafe has taken a further step in their standoff with management. In assemblies held this Tuesday, workers rejected the multinational's latest proposal and agreed to maintain the stoppages until July 31, and then, after the mandatory holiday break, to turn the strike into an indefinite one starting Monday, August 24.
This decision marks a hardening of the conflict, which has already seen three weeks of protests and stoppages that have spread from the Getafe factory to other Airbus locations in Spain. According to union sources, the company's offer barely modified the pre-agreement reached last week only with CCOO, which included a salary increase, the maintenance of remote work, and the choice of holidays. For the calling unions (SIPA, CGT, UGT-FICA, UTIL, and ATP), these conditions remain insufficient.
The assembly decides to maintain pressure
The General Secretary of SIPA and President of the Defence and Space Works Council at Airbus, Israel Paredes, explained to SER Madrid Sur that it has been the assemblies that have opted to maintain the strike as planned and, if there is no satisfactory agreement, to initiate indefinite stoppages with the support of all unions. "The workforce has spoken clearly: we do not accept crumbs," Paredes stated.
For his part, the CGT representative at the Getafe plant, Gustavo Retamosa, denounced that the company has only modified a small detail in its remote work offer, while the rest of the terms remain unchanged. "It is a very insufficient move that puts pressure on the workforce regarding product delivery and the commitments it has with its clients," Retamosa asserted.
Meanwhile, CCOO continues to advocate for a referendum of the entire workforce to decide the future of the conflict. The majority union on the works council, which signed the pre-agreement, believes the proposal is reasonable and that the indefinite strike will only harm the workers. However, the other unions and the assemblies have supported the stance of continuing the stoppages.
Consequences for the residents of Getafe and the region
The strike at Airbus not only affects the 4,000 workers at the Getafe plant but also has a direct impact on the local economy. Airbus is one of the main industrial engines of southern Madrid, and prolonged stoppages could affect the supply chain and the activity of auxiliary companies. Residents of Getafe and nearby towns such as Leganés, Fuenlabrada, or Parla, where many employees live, are already feeling the job uncertainty.
The company, for its part, claims that the offer presented is the maximum possible and that the indefinite strike jeopardises the delivery timelines of key orders, such as those for the A400M or the Eurofighter. However, the unions counter that the company can improve conditions without jeopardising the viability of the business.
Next steps and schedule
The workers will maintain the scheduled stoppages until July 31, the date on which the mandatory holidays imposed by the company will begin. On August 24, upon their return, the strike will resume indefinitely if no agreement is reached beforehand. The parties do not plan to meet in the coming days, although union sources do not rule out informal contacts.
Meanwhile, tension continues to rise at the gates of the Getafe factory, where hundreds of workers gather daily. The indefinite strike could mark a turning point in the labour conflict of one of the largest employers in the Community of Madrid.
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