ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) The people who attacked managers at Air France the day before when the human resources chief's shirt was ripped off in images seen around the world, must be severely punished, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Tuesday (October 6). Hundreds of Air France employees stormed a work council meeting on Monday (October 5) as the airline announced it would cut 2,900 jobs, forcing managers to flee. Angry staff, waving banners and flags, forced their way in to the meeting. Air France's human resources and labour relations chief Xavier Broseta was seen being jostled, his shirt ripped off and his tie hanging from his neck, as he battled his way through crowds of workers and made his escape. "Nothing can justify such acts. These are the acts of thugs. Justice will have to identify those who behaved with such an unspeakable violence," Valls said at Air France's headquarters near Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. "Violence is unacceptable in our society. It has to be condemned and those who perpetrated such acts should be severely punished," Valls added. Valls called for negotiations to continue between the airline and its staff, and said the government supported Air France's management in its efforts to turn around the company. Broseta and Air France Chief Executive Frederic Gagey had been detailing a "Plan B" to reduce costs at the carrier after negotiations with pilots and cabin crew failed. CEO Gagey had already left the room before the works council meeting was interrupted after about an hour.