Hunger-strike by Lafarge employees enters eighth day

But a union call for employees at other Lafarge sites to hold a one-day solidarity strike on Monday was largely ignored.

In May, the group announced the Frangey site would close at the end of 2012 because of high production costs. It was first opened in 1930 and provides work for 74 people.

A spokesperson for Lafarge said it would ensure all employees would find jobs elsewhere within the company and would be given help with finding homes and moving costs.

The hunger strikers, dressed in orange and yellow work clothes, have set up a camp outside the group’s headquarters in the Parisian suburb of Saint Cloud. The strike has attracted a lot of media attention and figures on both sides of the political divide have given their support.

On Monday, Manuel Valls, a candidate for the Socialist Party primary election, visited the strikers.

The Frangey factory is the town’s largest employer and provides work for around 500 people in the community.