For now, Airbus is relying
on government-backed furlough schemes in France, Germany and Britain to reduce
staff costs after earlier asking employees to take 10 days' leave.
Airbus is exploring restructuring plans involving the possibility of "deep" job cuts as it braces for a prolonged coronavirus crisis after furloughing thousands of workers, industry sources said, though no decision is imminent.
Europe's largest aerospace
group has not ruled out layoffs while signalling that no decisions will be made
before the summer. But a global airline crisis has gathered speed in recent
weeks, with carriers and suppliers pleading for help.
Chief Executive Guillaume
Faury is expected to update managers on Thursday after warning staff last month
that the firm's survival was at stake due to a slump in demand.
Under French law,
Toulouse-based Airbus cannot disclose restructuring plans internally before
consulting trade unions through a formal exercise not expected before the end
of May. But people close to the company said senior staff would be attempting
to read between the lines of Faury's weekly internal briefing to gauge his job
plans.
"Over the last few
weeks, Airbus has implemented a number of financial, operational and social
measures in order to adapt to the severe health and economic impact of the Covid-19
crisis," an Airbus spokesman said.
"The company will
continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the future of Airbus in
cooperation with its social partners."
A meeting with unions is
scheduled for Thursday to discuss progress on furlough schemes, French union
sources said. More temporary furloughs could be announced in the coming week.
One insider said any
restructuring plan would involve forced redundancies and cutbacks were expected
to be deep, though others cautioned it was too early to talk of specific
numbers.
No comments:
Post a Comment