Threatened with a shutdown and job losses, factory workers at a French electronics plant took what could be considered a unique approach to fighting the shutdown: kidnapping plant managers, including the HR manager.

The workers at the plant — run by U.S. company Molex — got word that they’d be hit with job losses. The staff responded by rounding up the plant managers and locking them up until, union officials say, they get assurances that the plant will remain open and keep everyone employed.

No word from the locked-up managers, but a union representative reports:  “We are continuing our action. The first night of detention went very well.” (Easy for him to say.)

The ploy apparently isn’t a new one in France. French workers at other cutting-back companies such as  Sony, Caterpillar and 3M have responded by kidnapping managers and predicating their release on company promises to retain jobs.

And here’s the worst part: In all three cases, it worked. The companies agreed to stall cutbacks in exchange for the release of the managers.