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UK bosses held captive in France | UK bosses held captive in France |
(20 minutes later) | |
Workers are holding three British bosses captive at an adhesives factory in France over plans to close the site. | Workers are holding three British bosses captive at an adhesives factory in France over plans to close the site. |
The executives and a local manager were taken hostage at British firm Scapa on Tuesday night, police said. | The executives and a local manager were taken hostage at British firm Scapa on Tuesday night, police said. |
European finance director Ian Bushell said unions representing staff carried out the "non-aggressive" action - the latest of several similar incidents. | |
A truck was blocking the entrance to the plant in Bellegarde sur Valserine in the south east, Mr Bushell added. | A truck was blocking the entrance to the plant in Bellegarde sur Valserine in the south east, Mr Bushell added. |
'Totally unacceptable' | |
It is thought around 100 employees face redundancy at the firm, which manufactures adhesive films and tapes for the car and construction industries. | |
Speaking from the UK, Mr Bushell confirmed police were at the site and that he expected negotiations to resume on Wednesday. | |
Meanwhile, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to end the practice of "boss-napping" after militant workers targeted four factories in the past month. | |
He said the practice was "totally unacceptable" and warned people found guilty would face prosecution. | |
The presidents of three universities have also been taken hostage by students protesting at education cuts. | |
Mr Sarkozy said: "What is this business of sequestering people? We have the rule of law, and I will not let matters go on like that. | |
"We can understand that people are angry, but this anger will subside with answers and results, not by aggravating matters with actions that are contrary to the law. | |
"I am insisting the police and courts arrest and prosecute those workers who take the law into their own hands in this way." |