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Angry workers use tires to barricade bosses inside Goodyear factory in France

Disgruntled workers at a Goodyear factory in northern France detained two of their bosses Monday by barricading a meeting room door with a large tire, their union said.

The incident is the latest in a series of flare-ups since the Ohio-based tire giant said last year that it planned to close the 1,250-worker plant in Amiens by the end of 2014.

So-called "boss-napping" became rampant in France in 2009 at the height of the economic meltdown, although the practice has since tapered off.

(Read more: A Tale of Two Frances in 'Lazy' Tire Worker Town)

Workers would not let the manager and a human resources chief leave a room after a meeting turned sour, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union told The Associated Press

The plant, 60 miles north of the French capital, Paris, is one of many to suffer from Europe's shrinking auto industry.

An employee waves a flag and blows a horn next to burning tyres in front the US Goodyear tyremaker site in Amiens, northern France, on December 5, 2013 after the announcement of the shutdown of the factory.DENIS CHARLET | AFP | Getty Images

Armel Drane, who said he was an ex-worker at the plant and had friends who were present inside the room, tweeted a picture of the tires blocking the door.

Directeur #goodyear #amiens

A Goodyear representative, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP the two managers were being held against their will.

The company was not available to provide an official comment.

(Watch now: TitanCEO snubs French workers but buys plan)

In March 2013 angry workers protested outside the plant in what was described at the time as a last-ditch attempt to save their jobs. They clashed with riot police and burned tires.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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