TOULOUSE (AFP)--Angry French workers besieged a car parts
factory Thursday after the U.S. owners accused a group of employees
of assaulting a manager and shut down the plant.
Executives at Molex Inc. (MOLXA) cited security reasons for the
closure of their factory in Villemur-sur-Tarn, near the southern
city of Toulouse, and lodged a police complaint against four
workers over the incident.
Molex Chief Executive Martin Slark also accused French police of
failing to respond to calls for assistance when manager Eric
Doesburg and two security guards were allegedly attacked late
Tuesday.
About 40 workers allegedly kicked and punched Doesburg following
a meeting of the factory's works council to discuss layoffs, but a
union official said the manager "did not receive any blows, just
eggs."
Doesburg is based in the U.S. and was in France for talks on the
fate of the 283 workers when the plant shuts down for good in
October and production is relocated to the U.S.
"We will not compromise on the safety and well-being of our
employees," Slark said in a statement issued from Molex
headquarters in Lisle, Illinois.
"We are very concerned not only by the violent actions of some
employees at this site but by the complete lack of support from law
enforcement authorities when people were being physically
attacked.
"This is not acceptable and we are prepared to take whatever
action we think is necessary to ensure both the safety of our
employees and the security of our plant."