Union tensions mount as Airbus prepares for cuts

PARIS — Airbus was at the center of mounting industrial tensions Tuesday as the European aircraft maker prepared to unveil a long-awaited restructuring program likely to include thousands of job cuts and the sale of several company sites.

The expected sale of Airbus sites in France, if confirmed, would be taken as a “declaration of war,” the most powerful French Airbus union said, a day before the scheduled announcement.

Airbus called a news conference for Wednesday afternoon after the board of parent company EADS unanimously approved its “Power8” restructuring plan late Monday, breaking a weeklong deadlock over the distribution of job cuts and work on future jet programs between France and Germany.

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has said the Airbus restructuring is likely to lead to 10,000 job cuts — or about 18 percent of the Airbus work force — as widely reported in the French and German financial press.

EADS gave no information on the planned cuts or production shake-up in its Monday statement, saying details would be announced only after staff representatives are informed Wednesday morning.

Media reports in France and Germany on Tuesday said Airbus now plans to cut 3,500 jobs in France and 4,200 jobs in Germany, and sell two plants in each country. Jobs may also be shed in Britain and Spain.

Among the Airbus facilities seen as most likely to be sold off are French sites in Meaulte and Saint-Nazaire and Germany’s Nordenham and Varel plants.

Force Ouvriere, the strongest Airbus union in France, said it was holding talks with union officials from the other Airbus countries — Germany, Spain and Britain — to prepare for possible industrial action.

“If the Saint-Nazaire or Meaulte sites are closed or sold, Force Ouvriere will take this measures as a declaration of war,” the French union said.

“All of the Airbus unions from across Europe need to get together and get mobilized to sink this plan.”