Airbus backs down on return-to-office after protests, sources say

PARIS: Airbus has watered down a drive to reduce remote working after protests from unions, including a series of strikes in its Spanish facilities, people familiar with the matter said.Many Spanish workers have been staging on-off strikes since July, and there have been sporadic protests in France and Britain over plans by Airbus to force white-collar staff to work on-site four days a week by September, rather than the current three.Now, managers have been told they can allow staff to maintain existing arrangements that allow them to work at home an average of two days a week, effectively suspending the bid to introduce a mandatory limit of one day, the people said."Our objective remains the same: we aim for increased on-site presence to ensure better collective efficiency, knowledge tran