Airbus and Spanish unions reach preliminary wage deal to end plant strikes

Ministerial mediation and agreement terms

On 4 September 2026, aerospace manufacturer Airbus reached a preliminary agreement with four Spanish labor unions representing 88% of its workforce following emergency mediation at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Mediated by Industry Minister Jordi Hereu with Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury present, the meeting addressed a dispute that led to plant strikes across Spain. The proposed terms link future wage increases to actual inflation and establish a 7.95% purchasing power recovery distributed over four years through 2029. Annual wage increases will be 2.0% through 2028, followed by a 1.95% rise in 2029. The accord also provides a 0.5% allocation for individual salary reviews, 0.5% for internal promotions, a one-time non-consolidable gross payment of 2,000 euros for the April Effect payable in October 2025, and preserves remote work policies allowing up to 40% telework.

It is a magnificent preliminary agreement in which workers win in their salary and working conditions, while the competitiveness and industrial viability of Airbus Spain is guaranteed.

Strike progression and mediation timeline

The labor dispute began on 1 July 2026 over telework reductions and wage erosion. Employees initiated an indefinite strike on 25 August across factories in Getafe, Illescas, Albacete, Cádiz, and Seville. On 27 August, Airbus management rejected the initial union wage proposals and offered a 7.6% purchasing power adjustment over five years through 2030. Employees rejected that plan on 31 August, voting by an 81% majority to continue the strike. Negotiations stalled on 3 September when a second round of talks before the Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA) ended without an accord, prompting direct ministerial intervention the following morning.

Union divisions and strike committee responses

The agreement was negotiated by four unions: ATP, CCOO, SIPA, and UGT. However, the outcome created internal discord within the broader strike committee, which comprises CGT, ÚTIL, and UGT. CGT and ÚTIL did not attend the ministerial mediation, prompting CGT to accuse the government of bypassing striking unions. UGT released an internal statement stating that it had not signed a final deal during the morning session, pointing to the absence of the other striking organizations. In contrast, CCOO Inter-company Committee President Alfonso Mora indicated that attending unions committed to defending the proposal. Mora noted that ministry officials urged an end to the strike to avoid disrupting Airbus operations across Europe after substantial state investments in the company.

Workforce referendum and regional impact

Airbus employs 14,000 people across Spain, including 9,000 at its facility in Getafe, and supports roughly 4,000 direct and 15,000 indirect aerospace jobs in Andalusia. Airbus announced that the preliminary accord will be submitted to a binding referendum across its entire Spanish workforce during September to give employees time to evaluate the terms. Andalusian Employment Minister Rocío Blanco and Industry Minister Jorge Paradela both welcomed the agreement, pointing to its importance for regional supplier networks. Regional political figures, including PSOE-A leader María Jesús Montero and government delegate Pedro Fernández, similarly praised the mediation, noting that final implementation depends on the upcoming employee vote.