France: Sacked workers threaten to contaminate Seine river

The number of disgruntled workers reached 60 and the company, Serta, is declared bankrupt.

They threatened to throw 8000 liters of toxic products into a sewer that runs into the Seine, near Rouen, in Normandy.

“It’s the only resource we have, we haven’t given an ultimatum, and we don’t pretend to carry out the threat, but we ask for 15,000 euros per employee,” explained Jean-Pierre Villemin, a labour union representative of workers , who have been on strike since last weekend. He added: “The employees mean to make those responsible pay.”

Commercial Court of Evreux, in Upper Normandy, will meet today to try to help the company, which could order their liquidation or accept the offers for its recovery.

Although the labour union said that it’s only a threat, the people noted with unease how the protests have been worsening as a result of the economic recession.

“We threated to do this because we are dealing with deaf and blind people,” concluded Villemin.