PARIS -- Workers protesting against the planned closure of a loss-making Goodyear (IW 1000/218) factory in northern France on Thursday used a pile of burning tires to blockade the plant.
The action, organized by trade unions representing the 1,173 workers at the plant in Amiens, was in protest over the company's attempts to complete the shutdown.
Goodyear's management had called a final meeting of the company works council for Thursday in a bid to conclude the consultation process required under French law.
Union representatives walked out of the meeting shortly after it had started, claiming Goodyear had not complied with its obligations.
Titan International has offered to take over part of the factory, which produces tires for farm vehicles. If it goes ahead, Titan's plan would preserve 333 jobs at the site for at least four years.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013
