Almost half the French approve locking up their boss

[Raph's Girl]

http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/2009040...ve-of-loc.html

Almost half of French people believe it is acceptable for workers facing layoffs to lock up their bosses, according to an opinion poll published on Tuesday.

Staff at French plants run by Sony, 3M and Caterpillar have held managers inside the factories overnight, in three separate incidents, to demand better layoff terms -- a new form of labour action dubbed "bossnapping" by the media.

A poll by the CSA institute for Le Parisien newspaper found 50 percent of French people surveyed disapproved of such acts, but 45 percent thought they were acceptable.

"They are not in the majority ... but 45 percent is an enormous percentage and it demonstrates the extent of exasperation among the public at this time of economic crisis," Le Parisien said.

On March 31, billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault was trapped in a taxi in Paris for an hour by staff from his PPR luxury and retail group who were angry about layoffs. Riot police intervened to free him.

Le Parisien found that 56 percent of blue-collar workers polled approved of bossnappings while 41 percent disapproved. Among white-collar workers, 59 percent were against the practice while 40 percent thought it was acceptable.

"These hostage takings, we know how it starts but no one knows how far it can go," said Xavier Bertrand, a former labour minister now secretary-general of the ruling UMP party.

"Our country must avoid entering a spiral of violence," he said in reaction to the opinion poll, adding that bossnappings "cannot be tolerated".

Oh those nutty French

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

After receiving this news, I can only come to one of two conclusions:

1) European workers are really spoiled brats, or:

2) The image of the European working class living the life of Riley (6 weeks vacation etc.) is not in line with reality.

[shredder17]

this is one of the negative and unfortunate results of socialism and people being ignorant of the science of economics. some people believe that companies are in business to provide lifelong employment for everyone, when in fact companies get in business make a profit and expand its influence through research and development. through this process the business, its employment and the broader community will prosper, of course granted that all parties are being lawfull in thier business practices. capitalism is not perfect but i believe is the best economic philosophy.