Thousands of Airbus workers and suppliers staged a protest at the planemaker's German plants today as parent EADS prepares for a restructuring programme.
The protests could spread across Europe if EADS presses ahead with mass job cuts and closes plants, the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) warned.
More than 24,000 Airbus workers and suppliers turned up to fight for the future of the planemaker's seven German plants on Friday, including some 12,000 at its main German site in Hamburg and 3,000 in Bremen, according to worker representatives.
In France, unions pledged to fight any job cuts and appealed for state help to shore up the company as it starts restructuring.
About 100 French Airbus workers protested outside a government office in Toulouse, where the multinational planemaker is based, to voice fears over reports that up to 10,000 European jobs including many in France may be axed.
EADS announced a restructuring plan, called Power8, after it was plunged into crisis last year when wiring problems delayed production and deliveries of its flagship A380 superjumbo aircraft, costing it almost €5 billion in future profits.
The company aims to save €5 billion by 2010 in total and then cut costs a further €2 billion annually after that.