air france workers on trial over shirtripping melee
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

As he fled a mob of workers angry

Air France workers on trial over 'shirt-ripping' melee

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Air France workers on trial over 'shirt-ripping' melee

Air France executive Xavier Broseta escapes
Bobigny - Arab Today

Fifteen people went on trial Tuesday over rowdy scenes a year ago in which an Air France executive had his shirt ripped as he fled a mob of workers angry over planned job cuts.

Images of the incident near Paris hit screens around the world, showing bare-chested human resources chief Xavier Broseta trying to scale a fence after being chased out of a meeting about restructuring proposals at the troubled airline.

Another executive, Pierre Plissonnier, also had his shirt and jacket torn in the incident in October 2015, which arose from a dispute over plans to cut 2,900 jobs.

After crashing through the fence outside Air France headquarters on the outskirts of Paris, dozens of workers had broken into the conference room where management was unveiling the restructuring plan to the firm's works committee.

Guards employed by the company were also injured in the melee.

Five of the defendants face charges of "organised violence", punishable by up to three years in prison and a 45,000 euro ($51,000) fine if convicted.

Another 10 face lesser charges in the two-day trial.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the men, whom he branded "rogues", should be given stiff sentences.

Air France unions have called for a rally outside the court on Tuesday demanding that the charges be thrown out.

The hardline CGT trade union, which spearheaded sometimes violent protests earlier this year against France's controversial labour law, will also take part in the rally.

Air France's lawyer, Dominique Mondoloni, said the defence would seek to "transform the perpetrators (of the violence) into victims and the victims into perpetrators."

Speaking to AFP, he added: "Air France will be there to support workers and reiterate that violence can never become a way to resolve labour disputes."

- The bigger picture -

The defendants' lawyer, Lilia Mhissen, said she hoped the her clients would "not be judged on the basis of video clips that last a fraction of a second" but on the bigger picture.

At least two of them "clearly acted to protect Mr Broseta and Mr Plissonnier", she said.

"If they had retrieved all of the video images... the story would have been different."

Air France, which employs around 55,000 people, has scrapped the restructuring plan but still faces tensions with pilots and flight crews that staged strikes in late July.

Air France-KLM returned to profit last year after seven years of losses, but faces stiff competition from Asian and Gulf airlines as well as new low-cost long-haul alternatives.

The airline also faces a downturn in bookings, notably by Japanese, Chinese and American customers, because of the string of jihadist attacks that have hit France over the past 21 months.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

air france workers on trial over shirtripping melee air france workers on trial over shirtripping melee

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

air france workers on trial over shirtripping melee air france workers on trial over shirtripping melee

 



GMT 09:16 2017 Wednesday ,13 December

Cape wearing tips

GMT 20:49 2017 Monday ,21 August

South Asia floods claim more than 750 lives

GMT 19:06 2016 Saturday ,10 December

IOF Close Al-Nabi Saleh Village's Entrance

GMT 18:01 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Abu Sayyaf ‘likely’ behind Vietnam freighter attack

GMT 06:41 2017 Sunday ,03 December

Hamas threatens 'intifada' over US moves on Jerusalem

GMT 16:17 2017 Saturday ,21 January

BMW 7 series crosses 5,000 unit mark in 2016

GMT 12:17 2016 Wednesday ,24 February

United Technologies nixes Honeywell merger

GMT 23:37 2017 Monday ,31 July

Saudi Arabia sanctions Hezbollah member

GMT 05:45 2018 Saturday ,29 September

Abdullah bin Zayed hosts official reception in New York

GMT 04:12 2018 Friday ,12 January

Saudi-led coalition says Yemen rebels threat

GMT 11:18 2014 Monday ,22 December

Richard Ward adds to The Chelsea Collection
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday