Marks & Spencer French staff strike

Workers at Marks & Spencer stores in France are on strike today after all-night salary negotiations broke down.

Dozens of employees have occupied the group's Paris headquarters.

We are very disappointed because we had a very generous annual pay increase on the table M&S spokesman

Mr Alain Juillet, chairman of Marks & Spencer France, says negotiations ended at 11 a.m. The failure of the negotiations stems from disagreement over the awarding of a bonus to employees.

Unions want the group to award a 12,000-franc bonus to all employees, while management prefers a bonus worked out as a proportion of each employee's wage packet.

Meanwhile, Mr Juillet said the search for potential buyers of Marks & Spencer stores in France continues.

A Marks & Spencer spokesman confirmed the talks had collapsed and staff had gone on strike.

The spokesman said "We are very disappointed because we had a very generous annual pay increase on the table."

PA