Workers Would Earn Same Money For Five Add'l Hours

Another facet of a controversial reorganization plan for European planemaker Airbus has come to light. A German magazine reports Airbus is looking to extend its work week by five hours, without additional compensation for workers at plants in France and Germany.

"Management apparently is talking to unions about longer hours: 40 instead of 35 per week are envisaged," according to a report in the Monday edition of Focus.

As you may imagine, the proposal is likely to met with protests, especially in France. Reuters reports the 35-hour work week was introduced seven years ago by the Socialist government in power at that time, and it remains a hot-button issue ahead of upcoming presidential and legislative elections.

Many French business leaders have been steadfastly opposed to the reduced work hours, saying the 35-hour week has limited growth, and hasn't led to an increase in employment as leaders had hoped.

Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal promises to review the 35-hour work week, with an eye towards "reducing negative consequences for workers and employees." Nicolas Sarkozy, a conservative candidate in the upcoming French election, says the 35-hour week should be a minimum, not a maximum number of hours a person may chose to work -- and be compensated for.

As Aero-News reported, Airbus parent company EADS is looking to slash as many as 10,000 jobs at the planemaker, as EADS fights to temper losses stemming from delays in the A380 and A350 programs. Focus reports two Airbus plants in France, and another two in Germany, would be sold under the stalled "Power8" restructuring plan, as well.

It's hard to imagine many workers will shine to the idea of working an additional five hours per week for the same pay -- but if the alternative is being out of work, well...

Focus adds Airbus is also looking to shift all A320 production from Toulouse to Hamburg, in exchange for Germany dropping its demands to assemble part of the upcoming A350XWB. Currently, Airbus builds its narrowbody planes in both French and German plants.

FMI: www.airbus.com