Violence at Air France could harm France image: Hollande
French President Francois Hollande says the "unacceptable" violent attack by striking workers against the managers of Air France could damage the country's reputation.
“Social dialogue matters, and when it's interrupted by violence and disputes take on an unacceptable form, it can have consequences for the image and attractiveness” of the country, Hollande said on Tuesday during a visit to a maritime college in northern France.
Striking workers stormed an Air France senior board meeting, where they ripped the shirts off company executives during the brawl on Monday.
Hollande called for a “responsible dialogue with a management that takes long-awaited decisions and union leaders who play the only card possible -- that of compromise and negotiation.”
The incident happened as a group of around 100 workers striking over recent job cuts forced their way into the meeting at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Monday.
Tensions between staff and management had been building up since the company announced the meeting to finalize the company’s “restructuring plan,” which involves sacking 2,900 employees by 2017. Based on the cuts, 1,700 ground staff, 900 cabin crew and 300 pilots will be made redundant.
According to the company, seven people were injured during the incident and an official complaint for “aggravated violence” was submitted to the police.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he was “scandalized” by the strikers' actions and that he offered the managers his “full support.”
Air France President Alexandre de Juniac condemned “the physical violence that took place around the executive meeting with the greatest firmness,” adding that it will not affect the management’s willingness to continue discussions.”
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