Two Goodyear Amiens Nord managers taken hostage by French workers have been released after being held captive for 30 hours, a situation described as belonging “to another era,” by an employer body.

Goodyear’s Amiens directors of production and human resources, Bernard Glesser and Michel Dheilly, were “kidnapped” yesterday (6 January) and held against their will in an apparent protest by unions angry at proposals that could see the plant shut with the loss of up to 1,200 jobs.

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Reports in France indicated water was thrown over the pair in a bid to keep them awake, while French television is carrying pictures showing one of the two being held by his ear, a move which provokes the comment: “Please, some respect,” from what appears to be a colleague.

“They [managers] are now free,” a Goodyear Amiens spokesman told just-auto from France. “That is good news.”

“Apparently the plant has been occupied by the CGT [Confederation General du Travail union]. It is fresh news, so I don’t have all the details. There will be time for [a] debrief later on.”

France’s employer body, MEDEF, has strongly condemning the kidnapping, slamming the action as “returning to another age.”

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It is not clear whether or not French police were involved in the release of the two men, although Goodyear said more information would be forthcoming shortly.

“Two Goodyear managers were kidnapped against their will in the factory – MEDEF strongly condemns this violent action – totally contrary to the principles of dialogue and negotiation,” said a statement from the employers body.

“MEDEF is not ignoring the difficult situation of this industrial site and its workers. [But] this does not justify in any way returning to practices of another age [which are] totally unacceptable.”

It appears the CGT’s ire has been provoked by potential redundancy payment terms, although no-one from the union was earlier available for comment.