War of words over French tire plant

NPR has the latest on an escalating war of words between Maurice Taylor, CEO of Illinois-based Titan tire company, and Arnaud Montebourg, France’s industrial renewal minister after a letter from Taylor leaked to the media.

Taylor wrote that he was no longer thinking about buying an ailing Goodyear tire plant in northern France, saying it would be stupid to buy a facility where workers were paid for seven hours but toiled for only three, spending the rest of the time on lunch and coffee breaks. He also told the minister what he thought about French workers when he visited the plant.

Here’s the whole story: U.S. Boss Offers Blunt Critique; French Workers Give Fiery Response

Goodyear announced in January that it would shut down the plant.