OK Francois, what's up with your country men?

The Coffee Shop
1

BOSSNAPPINGS?

The tactic, which became popular during the tumultuous days of 1968, of taking managers hostage is an extreme yet common measure beloved of the French worker.

It’s a “Common measure” taking people hostage if you lose your job? Is this a “Societal” thing?

I’m not sure it would go over so well here.

~Matt

2

I was going to ask the same question two weeks ago, when the first report made its way across the pond.

My only question is, why in the world is it Law Enforcement’s (official or unofficial) policy to allow it to happen? Do the police really just stand back and let it play out, even when hostages are taken?

3

well its france so the boss and his captor are probably having a glass of wine somewhere with a nice view and the police are having a nice smoke

it works out
.

4

BOSSNAPPINGS?

The tactic, which became popular during the tumultuous days of 1968, of taking managers hostage is an extreme yet common measure beloved of the French worker.

It’s a “Common measure” taking people hostage if you lose your job? Is this a “Societal” thing?

I’m not sure it would go over so well here.

~Matt

Probably not…in the states don’t the workers tend to shoot first, take hostages if there are any left?

5

well its france so the boss and his captor are probably having a glass of wine somewhere with a nice view and the police are having a nice smoke

it works ou t

That’s kind of what I was wondering. Is this a “Hey you bastard you just laid me off and I’m pissed” type of thing. Rather than heading to the bar and drinking they take the boss hostage for a while, have a few drinks, slap each on the back and go on their merry way.

~Matt

6

I can only think one of two things.

Either “Law enforcement” is in bed with labor and basically it’s legal extortion or it’s a “Tradition”, a sort of “Hazing” of the bastard that just laid you off.

I can see this as just a way to blow off steam…or something a bit more sinister.

I can’t help but picture a scene like in an Irish pub. All these guys locked in room singing, drinking and giving the boss a rash of crap at the same time. When everyone has had enough they all pass out, sleep it off and go home the next day with a hang over :slight_smile:

Again, why I asked.

~Matt

7

The process leads to a lock out:

  1. Bosses lay off some fellows.
  2. The laid off fellows are pissed, call on the syndicate and block out the plant.
  3. The government/bosses apply the best measure of force vs. reasoned argument they can so that they don’t piss off the rest of the workforce and, soon enough, the entire “fonction publique” that tend to think it terms of “the capitalist pigs are exploiting us”. Too much force and all the State employees go on strike and paralyze the country. That’s usually when the prime minister is bailed out, ejection seat type (cf. Juppé in '95).

And unfortunately it is usually not so jolly spirited, let’s-do-all-this-while-drinking…

8

It’s only fun if you live in the ‘Midi’, otherwise, it sucks.

Maybe a balance between the French approach and the American ‘take your shit now and leave’ approach would seem reasonable.

9

Note that the public prefers that approach to the we go on strike and paralyze the country approach, which usually, only bothers those who have nothing to do with the changes / layoffs etc.
The big strikes of June 91 and December 95 come to mind…Dec 95 was a total nightmare for many workers.

10

BOSSNAPPINGS?

The tactic, which became popular during the tumultuous days of 1968, of taking managers hostage is an extreme yet common measure beloved of the French worker.

It’s a “Common measure” taking people hostage if you lose your job? Is this a “Societal” thing?

I’m not sure it would go over so well here.

~Matt
Is this happening in Texas??? for real? francois is too badass to be from France…he’s a TEXAN! He’s BIG