Catherwood LibraryILR School

Strikes, work stoppages, and other forms of labor activism are commonplace in France, but over the last few years they have taken an extreme turn: workers in a textile factory caused a small chemical fire and poured sulfuric acid in a stream; aluminum factory workers kidnapped their factory director; and others have threatened similar actions. A union leader defended the workers, pointing to delinquent company directors who forced them into extreme actions. In the case of the textile factory fire, the company gave into the union's demands - shocking some who fear it will become commonplace to manage labor unrest by violence and not by the law.