Says Partners Should Come Onboard At Three Plants By Mid-July

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during this meeting. On Wednesday, Airbus CEO Louis Gallois met with labor union representatives, to share details of the controversial restructuring plan that will cost thousands of jobs at Airbus plants throughout Europe.

The Associated Press reports roughly 20 European union representatives attended the six-hour meeting -- which included Gallois (shown above) breaking down the poor financial numbers afflicting Airbus parent company EADS, as well as presenting a calendar for implementing the company's Power8 restructuring plan.

"We now have a roadmap," said Francoise Vallin, delegate for a union of white-collar workers.

As Aero-News has reported, Power8 calls for the elimination of 10,000 jobs throughout Airbus' operations in France, Spain, Germany, and the UK. Vallin states the plan presented during Wednesday's meeting calls for some sites in France to begin proceedings as soon as this month, that will lead to cuts to some 4,300 jobs down the road.

Workers throughout Europe have launched walkout protests and demonstrations since Power8 was unveiled in February... including a walkout by several thousand workers near Airbus' Toulouse headquarters Tuesday.

Several plants are also due to be closed, or re-partnered, under Power8... but Vallin states Gallois had some positive news on that front. Union reps were told contracts with industrial partners buying into Airbus facilities in Filton in Britain; Nordenham in Germany; and Meaulte in France, should be concluded by mid-July.

"We want to be convinced by this audit and remain more mobilized than ever," he said.

FMI: www.airbus.com