Strikers threaten to pollute Seine
Lorry drivers at risk of redundancy say barrels of toxic fuel additives are 'the only weapon we have'
STRIKING workers at a transport company in Normandy have threatened to pour 8,000 litres of toxic chemicals into the River Seine if their redundancy demands are not met.
About 60 lorry drivers at the Serta depot in Rouen have been on strike since last week, demanding individual pay-offs of €15,000.
The company went into administration last November and could go into liquidation by the end of this month. About 100 of the firm’s 250 staff have already lost their jobs.
Union rep Pierre Villemin said the barrels of toxic fuel additives were “the only weapon we have”.
“If we do not obtain decent pay-offs we will unfortunately be reduced to opening the fuel drums and pouring the contents into the sewers,” he told France Info.
“It will be dramatic – but not as dramatic as 250 people losing their jobs.”
Last month, workers at a bankrupt car parts firm near Poitiers threatened to blow up their factory with gas if they did not receive the settlement they wanted.
The 366 workers at the New Fabris factory called off the threat after union leaders held negotiations with Industry Minister Christian Estrosi.
Photo: zigazou76/Flickr
