Airbus Spain trade unions will snub a mediation meeting on Thursday ahead of an indefinite strike set to begin next week, union leaders confirmed.
Representatives from UGT, CGT, and ÚTIL announced they will not attend the session at the Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service, known as SIMA. The decision marks the second time the labor groups have boycotted talks with company management, following a similar refusal on August 11.
The unions represent workers across the operations of Airbus, the European aerospace giant, in Spain. Industrial action was called after 49.15 percent of the workforce voted on July 24 to reject an initial agreement negotiated between Airbus Spain management and three other union groups: CC OO, SIPA, and ATP.
Union rejection of mediation
Labor representatives said they refused to attend Thursday's meeting because Airbus management failed to deliver a new written proposal to address worker grievances. UGT general secretary at Airbus Edmundo Otero said the union informed the company that a formal written document was required before employees could assess whether sufficient progress had been made to end the conflict.
Otero stated that union members plan to evaluate any formal offer during workplace assemblies scheduled for August 24. He added that the organization still believes there is sufficient time to negotiate before the deadline, even if discussions do not take place on Thursday.
UGT maintains that the only resolution to the dispute is a solid step forward backed by the entire workforce. The union leader emphasized that any final agreement must receive approval from all employees across all company facilities in Spain.
Workplace assemblies and strike schedule
The planned strike is scheduled to start on August 24 with a three-hour workplace assembly to ratify the action. If no agreement is reached, workers intend to convert the stoppage into an indefinite strike starting on August 25.
CGT spokesman Gustavo Retamosa told radio station Cadena Ser that the union considers only the meeting formally scheduled for August 25, one day after paros begin, to be valid. Retamosa stated that CGT believes the SIMA mediation sessions are intended to weaken the authority of the strike committee.
However, Retamosa noted that CGT remains open to direct communications with management. He confirmed that no direct talks or updated proposals have taken place so far.
Executive changes and legal counsel
The union boycott follows major organizational moves by Airbus Spain to manage the escalating dispute. On Wednesday, the company replaced its head of human resources, Antonio Lasada, who had held the position for the past ten years.
Airbus appointed Soledad Muñoz as the new HR director for Spain. Muñoz previously served as head of human resources for Air Power, a key business line within the Defense and Space division of the multinational firm. She holds a degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and a master's degree in strategic HR management from the Escuela de Organización Industrial.
Airbus Spain has also hired global law firm Baker McKenzie to lead negotiations with union representatives and help secure an agreement to avoid widespread disruption.
Demands over pay and remote work
Employees at Airbus Spain began organizing protests and labor actions in July to demand salary increases that offset purchasing power lost to inflation in recent years.
In addition to wage increases, workers are seeking to protect key working conditions, including remote work guarantees. The upcoming assemblies on August 24 will determine whether the workforce proceeds with the full indefinite strike on August 25.
