Human resources director Xavier Broseta and the head of Air France in Orly, Pierre Plissonnier, found themselves in the midst of an angry mob who literally ripped their shirts off their backs as they tried to escape the enraged crowd.
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The French government owns a 17.6 per cent stake in Air France, which employs 52,000 staff, and cut 5,500 jobs between 2012 and 2014 in response to stiff competition from low-priced airlines in Europe.
But the board meeting had to be abandoned when hundreds of striking workers stormed into the airline’s headquarters at Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris. “If it is interrupted by unacceptable violence, this has consequences for the country’s attractiveness”, Hollande said.
The restructuring plans were revealed after the struggling airline was unable to broker a deal with its pilots. The long-haul business would be reduced by 10 per cent, with the fleet down by 14 aircraft to 93 and with the closure of five of its most heavily loss-making routes, mainly those serving Asia and the Middle East.
But Air France isn’t so understanding and has filed a criminal complaint.
Workers had become outraged after the company announced plans to scrap 2,900 jobs by 2017 – the cuts include 1,700 ground staff, 900 cabin crew and 300 pilots.
The managers had their shirts shredded from their bodies, and were forced to scale a fence before fleeing the scene under police protection.
The protest was organized by Air France employees concerned about downsizing plans after talks broke down between management and labour unions last week.
The primary target of the protestation, Air France president Frédéric Gagey, was not hurt in the scuffle.
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France’s prime minister Manuel Valls said he was “scandalised” by the workers’ behaviour, while parent firm Air France-KLM said it would take legal action against the protesters for “aggravated violence”. An Air France spokeswoman declined to comment. Broseta was photographed attempting to climb over a barrier to avoid protestors. The human resources executive, Xavier Broseta, apparently put on a new shirt and tie before saying, “We are fighting every day for an Air France that will have lasting growth”.
