Looks like France isn’t the place to be if you want to move up the corporate ladder to management. Employees at a 3M factory found out that a bunch of jobs were being cut so they are fighting back. Peaceful protest? Not so much. They decided to hold their boss hostage, barricading him in his office overnight until he agrees to better terms. It appears he’s still hole up in there even as I type.
Apparently it’s common practice that when French workers catch wind that there are layoffs coming down the pike, they take matters into their own hands and refuse to take it lying down. In fact, employees at a Sony factory in southwest France pulled the same antics earlier this month and successfully negotiated a better severance package for themselves. It sounds utterly insane, but the police don’t seem the least bit interested in stepping in, for fear of violence.
Union rep Jean-Fracois Caparros has drawn a line in the sand stating, "Until we have a commitment from 3M that they will increase pay-packets and are ready to discuss our conditions for negotiations, then Mr. Rousselet will have to remain here… it is out of question that he leaves without discussing our conditions.”
Imagine us stupid Americans, just bending over, taking our pink slips and heading to the unemployment line. What a bunch of pansy-asses.
That is why firms line the trading floor with security when they are planning on dishing out the "we appreciate your dedication and one hundred hour weeks, now please leave" speech.
I've always thought it was cool that you could punch somebody in the face in France without any fear of being sued or police involvement. This is a new level though.
You sure about that? got any links?
Anyway, I saw the manager on tv (he was "released") and he seemed to be okay to stay to discuss the thing with his employees, so he wasn't a real hostage.
If they weren't going to restrain him by force, he was never a real hostage...
But if he stayed behind to "discuss the thing with his employees," then he just gave them what they wanted. Where I'm from, that's the same as negotiating with terrorists.
An actually interesting post, thanks Affluenza
This is pretty ridiculous though. If the manager walked out and the workers started beating on him, would the police just ignore that too?
Apparently holding people hostage is not a criminal offense in France.
Consectetur fugiat ad inventore et dolorem. Ducimus voluptatem quis occaecati. Qui molestiae velit debitis fuga dolore.
Qui quidem sit est et aut eaque quis. Eum distinctio esse aspernatur consequuntur. Quae nam odit tempora. Libero ipsum dolore exercitationem et sit architecto.
Minus sequi inventore repellendus omnis nulla possimus quod. Placeat non eum ut laudantium quia voluptatem. Qui pariatur sequi dolor excepturi.
Et doloremque sunt cumque et deleniti. Fugiat eius facere earum sapiente. Doloribus qui nihil ut sed iusto ratione. Officiis non veniam ullam consectetur sint voluptas alias. Ullam aut odio ut assumenda dolor nisi explicabo distinctio. Quia facere vel veniam nemo sed quo.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...