Airbus has instructed the international law firm Baker McKenzie according to consistent reports in the Spanish media, to support complex negotiations with employee representatives in Spain . The aim is to open up additional channels for reaching an understanding and avoid escalation. The mandate was first reported by El Confidencial ; the company says it took this step because of the complexity of the process.
The background is an ongoing dispute over cuts to home-working arrangements, pay and working conditions, as well as holiday planning. Several unions called an indefinite walkout from 1 July, which they suspended in August. They have announced that they will resume the strike from 24 August 2026. A preliminary agreement previously negotiated with CCOO failed in a workforce vote at the end of July, further hardening positions. Alongside CCOO, SIPA, UGT and CGT are emerging as key driving forces.
Airbus told the news agency EFE, that the work stoppages so far had not affected commercial aircraft deliveries; existing production buffers were currently sufficient to cushion any impact. The company said it was monitoring the situation and hoped for a swift agreement. These statements are attributed to the company; there is no independent confirmation based on production data.
Bringing in Baker McKenzie points to an attempt to organise legal and procedural options in a multi-sided collective bargaining dispute and coordinate parallel talks with several unions. Such mandates generally aim to structure mediation solutions, minimise procedural risks and speed up decision-making. Nothing is publicly known about the specific content or any new proposals from the ongoing talks.
If the announced indefinite walkout begins on 24 August 2026, delays in Spanish manufacturing and supply processes could be possible, with potential consequences for schedules. This is a scenario assessment; it depends on the scale and duration of the strike and the sites affected. Airbus has so far pointed to sufficient buffers.
What is confirmed: the mandate to Baker McKenzie, the walkouts in Spain that began in July and were suspended in August, and the resumption announced by several unions from 24 August 2026. Airbus is credited with the statements that deliveries have not been affected and that it is monitoring the situation (to EFE). What remains speculative is whether, and to what extent, an indefinite strike would affect production in Spain.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).