Several Executives Forced To Flee A Meeting That Was Stormed By Union Protesters

Union protesters stormed the company headquarters of Air France Monday during a meeting where corporate officials were discussing job cuts at the airline.

Buying Business Travel reports that Air France plans to shed 14 aircraft and close five routes.

In a statement, Air France said that  "The schedule modifications will focus on routes where losses are highest, serving principally Asia and the Middle East.

"The adjustment [to 93 long-haul aircraft] will mainly be made via the accelerated retirement of A340s which will not be replaced by B787s as had been initially planned."

Multiple media reports indicate that several of the airline's executives were forced to flee the meeting when about a hundred protesters broke through a gate and rushed the building. The Associated Press reports that one high-level executive was seen fleeing shirtless, while another had his shirt and jacket torn to shreds.

The meeting between airline executives and union representatives was being conducted to discuss a plan to cut nearly 3,000 jobs among pilots, flight attendants, and others. Air France said it would entertain voluntary separations before resorting to layoffs, which according to the Wall Street Journal would be the first since the mid 1990's at the carrier.

In all, Air France is looking to cut 300 pilots, 900 FAs, and 1,700 others, a union official told the U.K. newspaper The Telegraph.

The Associated Press reports that such labor relations in France are often contentious, but rarely reach the level of violence exhibited Monday. However, unions do occasionally take an executive hostage ... a practice called 'boss-napping' ... to make a point.

Air France is reportedly considering legal action against because of the "aggravated violence" exhibited by the union.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.airfrance.com