Posted on 02/21/2013 3:23:44 PM PST by bruinbirdman
The French industry minister who received a letter lambasting his country's work ethic has retaliated by telling the US boss who sent the insulting epistle that he has "a perfect ignorance" of France.
Arnaud Montebourg, minister for industrial renewal in France, was subject to a written barrage of abuse from Maurice Taylor, chief executive of US tyremaker Titan, after the French politician appealed for financial support for an ailing Goodyear factory.
Mr Taylor berated French workers for putting in just "three hours" a day, and said his company would be "stupid" to invest in the loss-making tyre plant in Amiens, northern France.
"The French workforce gets paid high wages but only work for three hours. They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three. I told this to the French union workers to their faces. They told me that's the French way!" Mr Taylor wrote.
Mr Montebourg, who declined to comment on Wednesday, added his voice to rising tide of outrage in the Gallic nation in a written response telling the Titan boss "your words, as extremist as they are insulting, show a perfect ignorance of our country."
He went on to point out since Titan is "20 times smaller" than "French technology leader" Michelin, which is "35 times more profitable", Mr Taylor "could have learnt and gained enormously from a French base."
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, French government spokesman, also chimed in, saying: "I would like to remind Mr Taylor that France remains the number one European destination from American investors."
"And it's likely there are very good reasons for that."
The exchange of letters may have hit a nerve in France, however, where rising unemployment and fears the economy could be lurching back to recession stoke worries that French industry
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
original article:
I guess the French government thinks there economy is just fine?
Interesting how he completely failed to address the issue.
Politicians are incapable of root cause analysis and correction. They would have real jobs if they could do that.
/johnny
Ayup.
Yep! The Kermit forgot to tell the 'Mercun that Fraaahnce considers the "loss-making tyre plant in Amiens" a jobs program. It's better than paying unemployment.
yitbos
He couldn’t comment on Wed because it would’ve interrupted his midday break.
OK, so why doesn't Michelin put up the money if it's such a great investment?
Michelin was the best company I ever worked for. Leaving that job is one of my biggest regrets (my wife got transferred to another state and she had a higher-paying job at the time). It was non-union and the reason it stayed that was was by treating workers like human beings. No American company that I’ve worked for since has ever done that.
The money losing plant is a Goodyear facility (mentioned at another source).
I see the minister's comments were not about said plant but Michellin, which is not for sale.
Kermit libs same as U.S. libs, avoid facts, change the subject.
yitbos
I read that, but then why are they hitting up Titan? If they are looking for a partner to save the plant, why not Michelin?
Michelin is smart? No expansion in Europe?
WSJ reports the Goodyear plant union is run by commies.
yitbos
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