EADS Airbus creates 1500 new jobs
Hamburg, 26 March 2001
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Supplementary collective agreement with IG Metall Küste and Nordmetall
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Staff increase at all Airbus plants
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Numerous flexibilization measures
EADS Airbus GmbH will create more than 1,500 new jobs at its seven plants in the north and south of Germany. This was agreed with the IG Metall Küste and Nordmetall in a new supplementary collective agreement. Referring to the agreement, the Chairman of the Board of Management of EADS Airbus, Hans-Joachim Gante, said on Monday at a press conference: "The staff increase and the flexibilization measures are necessary in order to be able to cope with the high order backlog and the planned increase in production rates under manpower considerations." In case of the single-aisle aircraft (A318, A319, A320, A321), the production rates would increase from presently 23 jets (13 thereof in Hamburg) per month to 30 jets per month (up to 18 thereof in Hamburg) until the end of 2002.
In front of the journalists, Mr. Gante announced that the skeleton staff of the company of 14,942 employees in November 2000 would increase by 1,574 to 16,516 employees at the end of 2001. Of this number, 471 jobs had already been created since November of last year. Gante said: "Airbus is strongly in the ascendant. We are proud with this staff increase to make another contribution to fighting unemployment in Germany."
The chairman of the central works council, Peter Zimmermann, also emphasized the importance of the agreement under employment policy aspects: "With the supplementary collective agreement, we all worked towards the same end and we are happy that Airbus is again in a position to create new jobs." Especially the A380 would in the coming years turn out to be a job machine. The new employees would be absolutely necessary on account of the pressing workload. Zimmermann said: "Our workforce urgently needs reinforcements. We will therefore welcome our new colleagues with open arms."
Besides the staff increase, the supplementary collective agreement contains numerous flexibilization measures which allow to react flexibly to changing short- and medium-term utilization requirements. EADS Airbus Chairman Gante said: "Flexibility and quick reaction capability are decisive factors in international competition. For this reason, they are an absolute 'must' for us."
The following flexibilization measures are possible:
The number of 40-hour work contracts shall be brought to max. 1,540 until the 30th September 2001 because of the special situation at the Hamburg plant. For employees working three shifts, the weekly working time is not extended.
Limited employment contracts can be concluded for up to 18 months for special occasions. Limited contracts with a term of more than 18 months are possible if they are concluded within the scope of the plant extension and the work performed under the contract is of temporary nature.
Temporary changes in plant utilization can be dealt with especially in the short term by flexitime arrangements. Overtime shall be the means of choice to overcome short-term production bottleneck situations. The agreement on long-term accounts is based on the regulations reached two years ago for the Nordenham plant. Contracted labor can be employed for up to six months as temporary help in areas requiring only short training periods. Subcontracting can be useful to limit the size of the company if this does not affect the further development of the capabilities of the plants.
In the supplementary collective agreement, EADS Airbus has also declared its willingness to offer, in the years 2001 and 2002, at least 270 training contracts per year. The trainees will at the end of their training period generally be offered a permanent job. EADS Airbus Chairman Gante declared: "We are happy to be able to increase the number of our trainees. Especially for young people, it is important to start out with a sensible professional perspective. As an attractive employer who manufactures modern jets we can offer the young people fascinating products and diverse career opportunities."
