Airbus Spain workforce approves four-year labor agreement with 76.8% vote

Referendum results in Spain

Employees at Airbus operations across Spain backed the company management's economic and social proposal in a two-day vote concluded on 1 October 2026. The affirmative vote secured 76.76% support, while 20.26% voted against and 2.98% abstained. Union sources reported an 87% voter turnout among the company's Spanish workforce, which comprises between 14,000 and 15,000 personnel. The ballot was conducted through an online voting platform starting 30 September and concluded with in-person voting open until 17:00 on Thursday.

Contract terms and wage increases

The approved four-year agreement establishes wage increases pegged to the real consumer price index alongside an additional 7.95% recovery of employee purchasing power through 2029. The terms provide an additional 2% annual raise above inflation each year from 2026 through 2028, followed by a 1.95% adjustment in 2029. In addition to remuneration, the contract reinstates a 40% remote work arrangement, protects existing teleworking rules, and expands employee flexibility when scheduling vacation time. The package was formulated on 4 September 2026 following negotiations between Airbus management and labor unions including ATP, CCOO, and SIPA, with mediation from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Evolution of the summer strike

Discussions on the collective agreement initially began in November 2025, encompassing 22 formal negotiation meetings before talks stalled over working conditions and telework reductions. Union organizations initiated strike action on 1 July 2026, which disrupted aircraft assembly and affected regional suppliers across Andalusia. Following an unsuccessful initial referendum and periodic pauses during the summer, mobilizations resumed on 24 August. Union leaders then suspended an indefinite strike on 9 September after reaching the mediated proposal, leaving the final resolution to the workforce ballot.

Board chairmanship transition

Coinciding with the employee vote on 1 October 2026, Amparo Moraleda assumed the role of chair of the Airbus board of directors. Moraleda, who joined the board in 2015 and previously held executive positions at IBM Spain and CaixaBank, is the first woman and the first Spanish national to serve as board chair, a position traditionally held by French or German executives. She succeeds René Obermann, who decided not to seek reelection ahead of his mandate expiring at the 2027 annual general meeting. Moraleda commented on her new responsibilities in an official statement released by the company.

As I assume this role, I look forward to working closely with my fellow board members, leveraging their extensive experience to ensure that Airbus remains agile, resilient, and well positioned to seize future opportunities and address the challenges ahead.

The board meeting on Thursday also approved further governance changes. ASML chief executive Christophe Fouquet replaced Obermann as a non-executive director for the remainder of the current term, intending to stand for a full three-year mandate in April 2027. Additionally, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu announced he would not seek reelection upon the conclusion of his term, with Michelin chief executive Florent Menegaux slated to take his seat.