SigmaKalon execs held hostage in Belgium over job cuts

26 November 2003 18:07  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Six executives belonging to Dutch coatings group SigmaKalon were being held hostage by workers at its Manage, Belgium, factory in a dispute over partial closure of the plant, CNI learned on Wednesday.

 

A company spokeswoman told CNI that the group of executives, including two board members, were prevented from leaving the factory on Monday afternoon by workers angry about the impact on employment. Partial closure would involve the loss of half the site’s 280 staff.

 

"The managers were not allowed out and the workers locked every exit," she added. "They only gave them food yesterday and played loud music at night to stop them sleeping."

 

She said the police would not intervene because there was no evidence of physical violence against the captives.

 

The spokeswoman said negotiations were continuing at the company’s headquarters in Holland to try to end the dispute.

 

The closure plan was first introduced in March, but was postponed when no agreement could be reached with the unions, she added.

 

She was not able to say if production has been affected by the dispute.

SigmaKalon is one of Europe's largest suppliers of decorative paints and has a major presence in the marine, anti-corrosion and industrial paints markets. It was sold earlier this year by French chemicals company Atofina to private equity firm Bain Capital.

At the time of the sale, SigmaKalon employed around 10 000 people in 30 countries, with about 2500 in France, 2000 in the UK and 2000 in Benelux.

By: Will Beacham
+44 208 652 3214

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