VENELLES (AFP)--President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed Tuesday to put
an end to "bossnappings" in France, saying workers angry over
layoffs must nevertheless obey the law and not hold executives
captive.
"What is this business of sequestering people? We have the rule
of law, and I will not let matters go on like that," Sarkozy said
in a speech in Venelles near the southern city of
Aix-en-Provence.
"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," he said.
While some managers have behaved badly toward their employees,
"the vast majority of business owners are hurting from the economic
crisis and are behaving remarkably well," Sarkozy said.
French workers at a Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) plant last week
released four managers who were held hostage for 24 hours after the
U.S.-owned company agreed to reopen talks on compensation for
hundreds of laid-off staff.
In March, a manager was held at a factory run by U.S.
conglomerate 3M and the boss of Sony France was detained overnight
by workers outraged at job losses sparked by the global
downturn.
Opposition politician Segolene Royal at the weekend described
such actions as illegal but added that "workers must try to break
through the wall of absolute injustice" during the economic
crisis.