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Air France protests: five workers arrested after shirt-ripping scenes Air France protests: five workers arrested after shirt-ripping scenes
(35 minutes later)
Five Air France workers have been arrested on suspicion of attacking company directors, a week after violent scenes saw staff ripping off executives’ shirts. Five Air France workers have been arrested on suspicion of attacking company directors, a week after staff ripped off executives’ shirts in a protest over job cuts.
Police arrived at the homes of four suspects at dawn on Monday after allegedly identifying them from footage of the moment striking airline staff forced their way into a directors’ meeting where 2, 900 redundancies were being announced. Police arrived at the homes of four suspects on Monday morning after allegedly identifying them from footage of airline staff forcing their way into a directors’ meeting where 2, 900 redundancies were being announced.
Another suspect was reportedly arrested later and officers said more arrests could follow. The five men reportedly work for Air France’s cargo and freight wing.Another suspect was reportedly arrested later and officers said more arrests could follow. The five men reportedly work for Air France’s cargo and freight wing.
Pictures of angry strikers storming the meeting went around the world last Monday. As members of the executive committee met to discuss plans to restructure the loss-making airline, furious staff set upon two human resources directors, shredding their jackets and shirts and leaving one scrambling over a wire fence bare-chested apart from his tie. Pictures of strikers storming the meeting made headlines around the world last Monday. As members of the executive committee met to discuss plans to restructure the loss-making airline, furious staff set upon two human resources directors, shredding their jackets and shirts and leaving one scrambling over a wire fence bare-chested apart from his tie.
A total of seven people – five Air France staff and two police officers – were injured, one of them seriously, in the unprecedented scenes at the airline’s headquarters near Roissy/Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris.A total of seven people – five Air France staff and two police officers – were injured, one of them seriously, in the unprecedented scenes at the airline’s headquarters near Roissy/Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris.
At least 10 legal complaints have been lodged by six security staff, three company directors and Air France.At least 10 legal complaints have been lodged by six security staff, three company directors and Air France.
As well as the judicial inquiry, Air France has launched an internal investigation to identify the attackers.As well as the judicial inquiry, Air France has launched an internal investigation to identify the attackers.
Didier Fauverte, a senior union leader at Air France, confirmed that the five suspects worked in the freight department and were members of the powerful CGT union. Didier Fauverte, a senior union leader at Air France, confirmed suspects worked in the freight department and were members of the powerful CGT union. He said another four or five staff could be disciplined after singing “no shirts, no trousers” during the attacks.
He said another four or five staff could be disciplined after singing “no shirts, no trousers” during the attacks on the directors. “If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable. To be disciplined because you sing a song … they could punish half the world for that,” Fauverte told Le Figaro newspaper. “I’d very much like to continue negotiations but if it’s on this basis, I think these negotiations will be over quickly.”
“If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable. To be disciplined because you sing a song … they could punish half the world for that,” Fauverte told Le Figaro. “I’d very much like to continue negotiations but if it’s on this basis, I think these negotiations will be quickly over.”
The CGT union said the arrests were designed to frighten and intimidate staff. “It’s not going to help matters,” Fauverte told Europe 1. “I think there’ll be other staff belonging to other unions accused, and all this will just keep the pot boiling.”The CGT union said the arrests were designed to frighten and intimidate staff. “It’s not going to help matters,” Fauverte told Europe 1. “I think there’ll be other staff belonging to other unions accused, and all this will just keep the pot boiling.”
The arrested men are accused of “willful violence in a meeting and hindering the conduct of a works council”, an offence that, in theory, carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. Air France is also suing for damage to its property. The arrested men are accused of “wilful violence in a meeting and hindering the conduct of a works council”, an offence that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. Air France is also suing for damage to its property.
Workers were planning a demonstration of support at the Air France headquarters on Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for the airline said the company would not comment on an ongoing legal inquiry. Workers were planning a demonstration of support at the Air France headquarters on Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for the airline said the company would not comment on the ongoing legal inquiry.
An opinion poll by Ifop for the newspaper Sud Ouest found that the majority of French people – 54% – said they could understand the workers’ violence even if they did not approve of it. Poll findings divided along predictable lines, with company bosses less sympathetic than members of the workforce. An opinion poll by Ifop for the newspaper Sud Ouest found that the majority of French people surveyed – 54% – said they could understand the workers’ violence, even if they did not approve of it. Poll findings divided along predictable lines, with company bosses less sympathetic.
However, French political leaders including the president, François Hollande, described the violence as unacceptable. French political leaders including the president, François Hollande, have described the violence as unacceptable.