Airbus retreats on return-to-office after strikes

Airbus has watered down its plan to reduce remote working after protests from unions, including a series of strikes in its Spanish facilities. Many Spanish workers have staged on-off strikes since July, with sporadic protests in France and Britain over plans to require white-collar staff to work on-site four days a week by September, instead of the current three. Managers have now been told they can allow staff to maintain existing arrangements that permit working from home an average of two days a week, effectively suspending the mandatory one-day limit. The retreat deals a blow to CEO Guillaume Faury's campaign to draw staff back to the office as the industry seeks to meet record demand and prepare new products with thousands of relatively new staff. Production has not been affected by the disruption to white-collar ancillary functions. Three Spanish unions have called for a three-hour stoppage on Monday to vote on a longer walkout. The intensity of the Spanish unrest has rattled Airbus leadership, and the dispute has also brought to a head longstanding resentment inside Airbus's Spanish unit over its position within the group.