French unions call Airbus strike

Airbus staff have already protested against the job cut plans

Unions at Airbus factories across France have called for a half-day strike in protest at the planemaker's controversial restructuring plans.

The CGT and Force Ouvriere unions called for staff to walk out from 0700 GMT to 1100 GMT on Tuesday.

The action is timed to take place ahead of key meeting of the pan-European company's works council.

Airbus announced in February plans to cut 10,000 jobs across Europe, in a bid to revive the firm's fortunes.

Pressure

Under the Power8 restructuring plan, Airbus hopes to save 5bn euros (£3.4bn; $6.6bn) by 2010.

The planemaker, which is owned by Franco-German defence giant EADS, has been struggling in the wake of production delays to its flagship A380 super jumbo project.

"We are treating (the works council) with caution and we intend to keep up the pressure," Force Ouvriere's Jean-Francois Knepper said.

"The management will present the financial situation of Airbus and EADS as well as the ramping up of Power8," he said.

France will lose 4,300 jobs as its share of the planned shake-up - with a chain of suppliers also threatened.

The restructuring at Airbus will also see Germany lose 3,700 jobs, the UK 1,600 jobs and Spain 400 jobs.

Workers in France, Germany and Britain have already protested against the company's job cut plans.