UK Workers Protest Job Losses Under Power8

Several hundred workers walked out on their jobs Friday at an Airbus plant in Britain, protesting planned job losses at factories throughout Europe.

Unions at the Broughton, Flintshire facility -- which employs 7,000 workers, manufacturing wings for the A380 superjumbo -- say the strike was unofficial, and was not sanctioned by labor groups at the plant. The unions urged strikers to return to work, reports the BBC.

"There has been an official walkout at Airbus. I've asked people to remain at work but they decided the situation is such that they wanted to take unofficial action," said Rob Dowey, an official with the Amicus union. "It's started with this morning's shift and has gone on to this afternoon."

The work action is the latest of several to strike the beleaguered planemaker since Airbus revealed it plans to cut 10,000 jobs from its workforce of 57,000 at facilities in Britain, France, Germany and Spain. Up to 1,600 jobs are due to be cut at Broughton, and Bristol's Filton plant.

The walkout -- which Airbus said involved "several hundred" workers, came days after a protest held in Chester. About 900 workers demonstrated at that rally, according to the BBC.

"Both production shifts took part in unofficial action," an Airbus spokeswoman said. "We understand it was caused by disappointment over the news that there would be no profit-share payment this year."

Dowey said there's more to it than that. "Primarily they are concerned about the future and people being out-sourced," Dowey added.

Airbus executives expect the workers to return to their normal duties Monday.

FMI: www.airbus.com