Molex's French employees return to work, minister says

Molex Inc. employees decided today to return to work at the company's Villemur plant in southwest France, Industry Minister Christian Estrosi said.

The employees have been on strike over Molex's plans to close the unit. Estrosi today welcomed the decision to resume work in an e-mailed statement and called for further talks between management and unions.

The U.S. maker of electronic components temporarily shut the plant yesterday after Business Development Director Eric Doesburg was attacked leaving the site.

Molex said that Marcus Kerriou and William Brosnan, co-managers of the French unit Molex Automotive SARL, have resigned and that the Lisle-based company will manage Villemur directly from the U.S.

Kerriou remains vice president of human resources for Molex Europe and Williams is still head of operations for Molex Europe, the company said in a statement.