An American tycoon has refused to rescue a doomed tyre factory in northern France because its workers are 'lazy, overpaid and talk too much'. Maurice Taylor - chairman of U.S. tyre giant Titan International - issued the slur in a blunt letter to French industry ministry Arnaud Montebourg. In the letter, Mr Taylor explained why his company would not be buying a Goodyear tyre plant in Amiens that is threatened with closure and the loss of 1,170 jobs. Discontent: Workers leave the Goodyear tyre plant in Amiens which is set to close but tycoon Maurice Taylor has said he has no interest in taking over the factory
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Maurice Taylor is the chairman of U.S. tyre giant Titan International
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He wrote a letter to French industry ministry Arnaud Montebourg explaining why he will not be buying Goodyear
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The French workforce get 'one hour for breaks, talk for three hours and work for three', the tycoon said
The embarrassing assessment of @placeholder workers comes as France teeters on the brink of recession and unemployment has hit three million - the highest level of joblessness in 15 years.