There were unions, but the strike and "confinement" of the manager were spontaneous and the unions' representatives came at the end to negotiate. This kind of spontaneous movement was not uncommon.

I must add that it took place at a time when unemployment was low, so the power balance between workers and employers was not the same. In fact, I was, by choice, a temporary worker and I got fired for having led the strike, but I wasn't worried because I knew I could easily find a new job, which happened within a week.

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet