French autoworkers disrupt Peugeot Citroen plant

[January 29, 2013]  AULNAY-SOUS-BOIS, France (AP) -- A few hundred French striking autoworkers are disrupting production at a key Peugeot Citroen plant north of Paris, protesting layoffs linked to its pending closure.

France's largest automaker, struggling to compete in Europe's stagnant car market, is cutting 8,000 jobs and closing the Aulnay-sous-Bois factory.

Workers from the vocal and far-left CGT union marched into the plant early Monday, just as the company was trying to resume production after a similar disruption earlier this month.

Some workers who wanted to work Monday were resting inside half-built cars, because the striking workers were blocking the production line.

The company says production is progressively resuming despite the disruption.

Jean-Pierre Mercier of CGT says they want new jobs that would include early retirement at 55 and permanent contracts for all workers.

[Associated Press]

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