Air France managers flee as staff storm meeting on job cuts

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[October 05, 2015] ROISSY, France (Reuters) - Air France managers fled a meeting on Monday about mass job cuts after angry staff waving banners and flags stormed the room, according to Reuters journalists present at the scene.

Television images also showed airline human resources and labor relations chief Xavier Broseta being jostled, his shirt ripped off and his tie hanging from his neck, battling his way through crowds of workers as he sought to escape.

Broseta and Air France Chief Executive Frederic Gagey had been detailing a "Plan B" to reduce costs at the carrier after negotiations with pilots and cabin crew in an effort to reach concessions that could lead to a softer deal failed.

CEO Gagey had already left the room before the works council meeting near Charles de Gaulle airport north of Paris was interrupted after about an hour.

Parent Air France-KLM said shortly afterwards that it planned to take legal action over "aggravated violence" carried out against its managers.

"This violence was carried out by particularly violent, isolated individuals, whereas the protest by striking personnel was taking place calmly up until then," an Air France-KLM spokesman said.

Air France confirmed in the meeting that it planned to cut 2,900 jobs by 2017 and shed 14 aircraft from its long-haul fleet, two union sources said.

The cuts include 1,700 ground staff, 900 cabin crew and 300 pilots, the sources said. The long-haul business would be reduced by 10 percent.

The French airline also wants to cancel its order for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the sources added. Air France-KLM has 19 787-9 and six 787-10 jets on order.

Europe's second-largest network carrier is seeking to cope with pressure from low-cost competition in Europe and Middle East long-haul carriers, and is at loggerheads with its main pilots union, the SNPL, over its plans.

(Reporting by Simon Carraud, Jacky Naegelen and Cyril Altmeyer; Writing by James Regan; Editing by Brian Love and Louise Heavens)
 

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