British Bosses Released By French Workers

Three British bosses held captive by workers at a French factory over plans to close the site have been released.

According to European Finance Director, Ian Bushell, unions representing employees at British manufacturer Scapa, held the managers overnight after a breakdown in negotiations on Tuesday.

The executives and a local manager, who were captured at British firm Scapa on Tuesday night, have now left the site.

The stand-off is said to have began when the representatives of management of the group travelled to the site in the south-eastern town of Bellgarde-sur-Valserine to discuss the conditions of the closure.

It is understood around 100 employees face redundancy at the firm, which manufactures adhesive films and tapes for the car and construction industries.

This is the latest in a string of instances where French workers have impounded bosses. Employees of French factories belonging to Sony, Caterpillar and 3M have previously held executives hostage in recent weeks in attempts to avoid layoffs, or to negotiate better severance payouts.

Meanwhile, a new poll carried out has indicated many in France support the recent tactics. The CSA agency said a poll shows 45% of French believe sequestering the boss is "acceptable" during protests over lay-offs or other company action.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, however, has vowed to end the practice of "boss-napping" after four factories were targeted by militant workers in the past month.

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."

(JM/BMcC)