(Fwd) [65] THOUSANDS MARCH ON RENAULT HEADQUARTERS TO PROTEST

["Curtis Price" <cansv@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Date:          Tue, 11 Mar 1997 21:30:58 -0500
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Subject:       [65] THOUSANDS MARCH ON RENAULT HEADQUARTERS TO PROTEST CLOSURE

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Thousands march on Renault headquarters to protest closure
By JEAN-MARIE GODARD

Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) -- In what protesters dubbed a ``Euro-demonstration,'' thousands of
Renault workers from France, Belgium and Spain marched on the automaker's
headquarters Tuesday to protest a plant closing and job cuts.

The mobilization tapped into the rising anger over Renault's decision nearly two
 weeks ago to close its factory at Vilvoorde, north of Brussels, leaving 3,100
jobless. Renault also plans to cut 2,764 French jobs this year.

An estimated 4,000 Belgian workers, mostly from Renault, came down in buses for
Tuesday's march, and about 100 workers came from Spain.

The protest was a sign of the unease with which many of Europe's workers view
the increased competition -- and lack of government protection -- of a united
European market. Many fear losing jobs or benefits.

``They are creating a European economic bloc. It is time to create a European
social bloc,'' said Claude Turbin of Renault's factory in Flins, near Paris.
``Maybe this ... Euro-demonstration will be an example.''

``It's important that workers organize themselves on the national level as well
as on the European level,'' said Michele Perrot, a representative of one of
France's big labor unions, the General Labor Confederation.

Rene Mouriaux, a professor at Paris' Institute of Political Studies, said
Tuesday's action was not the first inter-European strike against a company -- a
number took place in the 1970s. It was significant, he said, because Belgium,
which has criticized Renault, indirectly backed the protesters.

Hundreds of police in riot gear were stationed Tuesday outside Renault's
headquarters in suburban Paris. No confrontations were reported.

Beginning at Renault headquarters, the workers chanted slogans against Renault
President Louis Schweitzer, set off firecrackers and sounded horns before
blocking traffic for 15 minutes on the freeway that circles Paris.

There have been intermittent protests since the plant closing and layoffs were
announced on Feb. 27. That was followed by the announcement that Renault's
losses for 1996 would be ``considerably higher'' than anticipated. French media
reports have said they may top $700 million.

Renault plans to transfer some operations to Vallodolid, Spain. Angered by the
Belgium closing, the European Union competition chief -- who is Belgian --
threatened to block Spanish government subsidies to the plant, which requires EU
 approval. Spain then suspended its planned subsidies.

In Strasbourg Tuesday, the European Commission vowed to better protect workers
in Europe. Social Affairs Minister Padraig Flynn told the European Parliament
that a proposed law would oblige businesses to consult workers about pending
layoffs.

AP-WS-03-11-97 1840EST


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