REPORT: French workers vote against blowing up plant as long as their demands are met
Workers at French car parts maker New Fabris (its main clients include Renault and Peugeot-Citroen) have voted down immediate plans to explosively send the roof of their plant into the troposphere, as long as talks with aides to Industry Minister Christian Estrosi are in the works. It seems that the workers, part of the CGT union, are demanding higher redundancy payouts as nearly 370 of them have lost their jobs following the collapse of the automotive sector.
Gas canisters had been placed around the factory to facilitate the pending pyrotechnics, but they have since been moved. Christian Paupineau, a delegate of the CGT union, told Reuters that the talks must be forthcoming. "There has to be significant progress. The canisters are being stored and kept under surveillance and they can be re-installed at any time," he added.
The threats to blow up factories is a relatively new tactic for French workers – employees used to vent frustration by taking their managers hostage (aka "bossnappings") until their demands were met. Union representatives are due to meet with the factory workers on Thursday... assuming nobody blows their lid in the meantime.
[Source: Reuters | Image: Alain Jocard/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Richard 6:33PM (7/21/2009)
Too bad! It's a slow news week.
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Venom 6:40PM (7/21/2009)
Nice...
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some1 9:33PM (7/21/2009)
wow, some special people here...
lets take a factory hostage, and threaten to BLOW IT UP... that'll get us our money.
do people think of an exit strategy? the second the terms are met, they will ran over by police...
i dont get how this and whats going on in korea, really help them out.
MeiSooHaityu 6:41PM (7/21/2009)
This would have been resolved long ago in the U.S....Send in the S.W.A.T. team :)
Seriously though, I can't imagine the workers will not face criminal charges. If they all go to prison, I can't see how this will help any.
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Yaroukh 6:44PM (7/21/2009)
I'm kinda expecting amnesty for this crime is included in their demands.
Yaroukh 6:42PM (7/21/2009)
This is just ridiculous. And such country de facto leads EU. :(
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Yar 6:44PM (7/21/2009)
Shoot them.
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TigerMil 6:45PM (7/21/2009)
Clearly send in the military. This is a terrorist tactic that would not be tolerated in the US. Especially in Waco, TX.
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AutoblogKeepsMeAwakeAtWork 6:55PM (7/21/2009)
That's what I was thinking! How could this tactic possibly be legal? Furthermore, how can the union leadership condone such action?
Rico 3:01AM (7/22/2009)
Yeah! Violence is the answer, just like back in 19th century Chicago! Them shiny police assault rifles need some live targets to shoot at!
adam1drift 6:49PM (7/21/2009)
at least they have free health care...
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madtuscan 6:57PM (7/21/2009)
... and education!
Ponny 2:27AM (7/22/2009)
... and are supported by the french people who would never suggest to send the military to kill them...
MONTE 6:56PM (7/21/2009)
We can loan them a Predator and a couple of Hellfires if they want. No factory, no jobbie.
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xtasi 6:56PM (7/21/2009)
How is this not terrorism. "Give to our demands, or we'll destroy your building, kidnap people". WTF!?!?!?
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USA A-OK 6:58PM (7/21/2009)
Oh you Americans are funny. If this happened in the US, it would be heralded as the greatest day in the history of labour. People would probably say its because of Obama, your suntanned president. Unfortunately, Americans are too spineless to stick up for what they believe in and protest against the man. I suppose this is why the French had to be the ones to give you modern democracy. You should be thankful.
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Roundaboutway 7:09PM (7/21/2009)
We're thankful for Jefferson buying the entire middle of the country from Napoleon at the vertically challenged leaders' fire sale.
Frank Hoffman 7:08PM (7/21/2009)
I don't like Obama and even I see that as a racist comment against him.
I can't imagine what you would have called Lieberman (a Jew) if he had been his vice president.
AutoblogKeepsMeAwakeAtWork 7:11PM (7/21/2009)
This is a joke, right? If workers tried this in the U.S., they would likely get the guy who sniped Somali Pirates to come to the factory and showcase his headshot handywork.
A supporter of France calling the US spineless...this has to be a joke.
Rufus 7:14PM (7/21/2009)
This guy is clearly not a troll.