Thousands protest against HMR job cuts

16 January 1998 13:09  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Thousands of workers joined a demonstration against job cuts Friday, at German group Hoechst's Frankfurt headquarters.

Some 5000-6000 people took part in the peaceful protest at the east gate of the company's Höchst site, the larger of its two Frankfurt bases. The company works council organised the demonstration after Hoechst's pharmaceutical business, Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR) announced earlier this week that it might cut 600 jobs in Germany. Hundreds more losses are planned in France and the US.

An HMR spokesman told CNI: "It was a very rational demonstration…there were no boos, there were no cries (sic)." The protestors had waved banners and blown whistles, he said. The demonstration started at 11am local time (10am GMT) and lasted for about two-and-a-half hours.

Works council leaders from the Höchst site and HMR's Romainville site in France addressed the demonstration. Frankfurt mayor Petra Roth also spoke, the spokesman said.

No further protests or strikes were expected, he said. "To my knowledge there is nothing else planned right now." Discussions with the works council to work out the details of the job cuts would continue, as required under German law.

By: Grace Williams
+44 208 652 3214

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