The French have had a long history of violent protests when surrounding their employment and, yet again, anger has erupted in the country of love. After it was announced that Air France would be cutting its losses over the next two years due to high airline competition, around 100 of the airline’s employees stormed the board room in protest.

The controversial ‘restructuring plan’ involves around 2 900 redundancies seeing 1 700 ground staff, 900 cabin crew and 300 pilots lose their jobs within the company. Increased competition from the preffered Middle East rivals and Europe’s budget airlines is what prompted the loss-making airline group to consider reorganisation and attempt a R27,4 billion saving. The group also plans to close five of its long-haul routes and sell off 14 of its larger, long distance aircraft.

For several years now, successive heads of Air France have suggested rescue plans … each time, it’s a bottomless pit with the same suggestions. I believe they are trying to set one lot of us against the other. We need a real expert appraisal of the situation. Air France had been hard hit by the deregulation of the industry and the popularity of low-cost airlines.

During the board meeting, several hundred employees gathered outside the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, home to Air France’s head office. The crowd were angry, waving flags and placards of the company chief’s mugshots, portraying them as criminals. The few dozen that found their way into the board room were shouting ‘this is our home’. Once inside, the angry employees ripped the shirts off the back’s of senior management:

The Air France president, Frédéric Gagey, escaped unharmed. However Pierre Plissonnier, vice president of the airline’s Orly airport hub was attacked. Xavier Broseta, deputy director for human resources and labour relations, also felt the workers’ ire and had to flee semi-naked.

It seems that France’s influential people are supporting the board members.

The French finance minister tweeted his support for the attacked men. “Those who engage in violence are irresponsible. Nothing can replace social dialogue,” Emmanuel Macron wrote.

[pics: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images ; Jacky Naegelen/Reuters ; Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images ; Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images]

[source: theguardian]