"Power8" Protests In France, Spain, And Germany

Once again, workers for European planemaker Airbus took to the streets last week, staging strikes and protests to show a united front against the controversial "Power8" restructuring program mandated by parent company EADS.

As many as 9,000 workers in Spain were expected to walk out of their jobs at EADS and Airbus factories Friday, reports the Associated Press. Thousands of French workers picketed outside Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, carrying signs reading "David vs. Goliath: We are ready to fight," and "We Stand Together."

Workers in Germany also took to the streets, protesting EADS' call for cuts to 10,000 jobs, and either the sale or consolidation of six plants throughout the European Union.

"The mood at Airbus is bad, nobody really knows what will happen next," said Holger Ruschinski, an employee in Hamburg. "Our motivation level has dropped to the cellar."

At least 12,000 Airbus workers walked off their jobs in a similar protest earlier in the week, bringing operations at several plants to a near-standstill.

The issue has risen to the forefront of French politics, as candidates in the upcoming presidential election have promised government intervention to ease the crisis if they are elected.

FMI: www.airbus.com