French workers at a U.S.-run manufacturing plant in southeastern France have detained four managers, to protest plans to cut hundreds of jobs.
The workers at a Caterpillar heavy equipment plant in Grenoble were refusing Tuesday to let the managers, including the factory director, leave the premises. Caterpillar is set to cut 733 workers at two plants in France.
The seizures, on the eve of the G20 global economic summit in London, mark the third time in recent weeks that French workers have hijacked executives to protest job losses. Police did not intervene in the earlier incidents, and the hostages were released unharmed.
The French news agency quoted a union official, Benoit Nicolas, as saying a deal resulting in the release of the latest captives was within reach.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
