An Airbus building. Drawing. - Maarten Boersem - Sipa

In mid-February, due to "sluggish market conditions", Airbus' Defense & Space division announced its intention to cut 2,362 jobs by next year, including 404 in France. Thursday, during a central social and economic committee, the management of the group specializing in military aircraft, launchers and satellites, indicated that these cuts would affect 260 positions in Toulouse and 99 in the Paris region, Elancourt and Bezons.

"These 404 positions concern Airbus Defense and Space but also its subsidiaries," Thierry Préfol, delegate of CFE-CGC, first Airbus DS union, told AFP.

The CFE-CGC Airbus denounces the 2,362 job cuts announced by Airbus Defense & Space last night. "Downsizing at the wrong time", because the space market is starting again, says the union https://t.co/J5o3DSoNRU

- Vincent Lamigeon (@VincentLamigeon) February 20, 2020

In addition, 36 other positions will be eliminated in Airbus subsidiaries in Toulouse and Elancourt, according to Airbus, which confirmed these figures. The group does not plan to dismiss or freeze hiring. "There was a very clear commitment from management: no layoffs, no forced departures," said Thierry Préfol.

Voluntary departures

Voluntary departures should take place between July 2020 and the end of 2021. They will be the subject of a collective agreement rupture (RCC) which still has to be negotiated with the unions. But they are worried about a possible lack of staff while the space market, after an air gap in 2017-2018, seems to be starting again. "We would like to avoid reliving the trauma experienced by those who remained during the 2014-2015 social plan, when the workload increased and we found ourselves understaffed," argues Thierry Préfol.

In France, Airbus Defense and Space employs nearly 8,000 people. Its activity in France is mainly focused on space. Its operating profit for Airbus DS worldwide fell by 40% last year, to 565 million euros.

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  • Defense
  • Airbus
  • Satellite
  • Economy
  • Toulouse