An angry mob of workers attacked deputy head of human resources Xavier Broseta and director of Air France in Orly, Peirre Plissonnier, on Monday near Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Air France President Frédéric Gagey escaped unharmed. Several others were injured.

What was supposed to be a company-restructuring meeting turned out to be a physical struggle for the two executives when angry workers mobbed the Air France headquarters north of Paris. About 100 workers forced their way into the senior management meeting and ripped the shirts of the executives. Both Broseta and Plissonnier had to struggle their way out of the mob with the help of bodyguards. The executives resorted to climbing over a fence bare chested.

The strike was caused by the announcement of 2,900 employees being laid off in the year 2017 as a part of the company’s widespread restructuring to reduce costs by over US$2 billion (AU$1.79 billion), according to Air France's press release. Dubbed “Perform 2020,” the plan will cut several routes to India and Asia by 2017.

The restructuring was a result of earlier failed negotiations with the company’s pilots to work for longer hours with the same pay.

The estimated 2,900 employees to be removed from their jobs comprise 1,700 ground staff, 900 cabin crew and 300 pilots. In addition to a 10 percent reduction in its long-haul business, a reduction in the size of the airline's aircraft fleet and an increase in pilots’ working hours are all part of the plan to reduce the company’s 1.8 billion euros (AU$2.83 billion) in two years.

Air France has lodged an official police complaint againts the protesters for “aggravated violence,” stating that the incident that took place did not show the image of people working in the company.

Between 2012 and 2014, 5,500 Air France cut 5,500 jobs as a response to stiff and low-cost competition in Europe. The company stated that an impossibility of reaching an agreement to implement the productivity measures to restore long-term profitability is currently faced. However, it added that an alternative plan will be introduced and has mandated Air France KLM and Air France Management to carry this out.

The French government owns 17.6 percent of Air France.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES