SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — French workers have freed two managers they had detained at a Siemens AG subsidiary after the managers agreed to talks on the future of a plant slated for closure.

Talks on restructuring at the steel engineering subsidiary Siemens VAI MT are being held Wednesday in the city hall of Saint-Chamond near Lyon.

Workers locked up a human resources director and another manager Monday, then released them 26 hours later when they agreed to talks.

Siemens VAI MT aims to cut its workforce to 365 from 600 and close one of its two factories because of plunging steel demand.

Union official Laurent Bony says 150 workers are protesting Wednesday, angry that the talks are not being held at the threatened plant.

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