Solidarnosc Takes to Streets Again

Date: 26 April 2002

With the workers in Italy and Germany taking their demands to the streets by thousands last week, more than 20,000 workers in Poland are expected to demonstrate on Friday April 26 in Warsaw to demand a stop to anti-union reforms.

The ICFTU affiliate, NSZZ Solidarnosc, is demanding that the government reconsider its anti-union proposal of a reformed labour code and open a genuine dialogue with unions on issues touching unemployment and job creation.

Amongst Solidarnosc's most pressing demands to Polish authorities is for a reconsideration of a new bill which would impair the role of trade unions through the eradication of collective agreements. If the new bill becomes law, collective agreements terminated by one party would cease to function after 6 months, even if no new agreement is concluded.

According to Solidarnosc's President Marian Krzaklewski the new bill would "give the employers the possibility to terminate all collective agreements and unilaterally impose working and remuneration conditions without taking into account our opinion. Clearly, this can not stand."

The Government also plans to go ahead with three other major reforms that would be damaging for workers' conditions and weaken trade union bargaining power. Firstly is the plan to eliminate compensation pay for individual workers laid-off due to company-specific reasons.

Secondly is to change the overtime scheme, which according to Solidarnosc, would make overtime work cheaper and lead to an increase in exploitation of workers and a decrease in employment.

Thirdly, the government's proposals would remove present limitations on the number of fixed-term contracts per company until the accession of Poland to the European Union. A move that would worsen the already precarious situation of workers.

"We firmly believe that the Polish government's plan is not in line with its prime objective of creating jobs and giving the youth a chance to enter the labour market. To place in jeopardy the basic rights of workers will not make Poland a more competitive and attracting venue for investors", said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder.

ICFTU represents 157 million workers across 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and areas. ICFTU is also a member of the Global Unions federation: http://www.global-unions.org

For further information

Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://www.icftu.org

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