Striking workers at a French plant that manufactures cranes have forced their employer to heed their demand for severance pay by threatening to blow up some company equipment.

The management of JLG Industries in southwestern France's Tonneins commune agreed Thursday to a $49,000 compensation for each of 53 workers it will lay off to stop the strikers from blowing up gas cylinders to destroy four cranes worth more than $408,000 in a car park. The strikers removed the gas cylinders and returned the cranes to the plant after the deal, according to reports.

The tactic was the same one used by striking workers of telecommunications manufacturer Nortel and car parts maker New Fabris to force their employers to accept their demands.

The Nortel management agreed to resume negotiations with workers while New Fabris was given up to the end of the month to comply with strikers' demands.