NSZZ Solidarnosc demonstration against changes in the Polish labour code

40-thousand demonstration of "Solidarnosc" marched on Friday in front of the Sejm building and the Prime Minister offices. Members of "Solidarnosc" protested against announced changes in the Labour Code. This was the biggest demonstration in Warsaw since several years.

This is the first so big protest against Leszek Miller government acting for the last 6 months. Before the manifestation started the President of the Union Marian Krzaklewski said that the problem of unemployment could not be resolved by means of confrontation against the society and by arbitrary decisions. He demanded to stop the policy, which - as he stressed - generates conflicts among more and more social groups.

Krzaklewski proposed the agreements on amendments of the Labour Code to be made on the forum of the Tripartite Commission.

The Unionists started marching at about 1.30 pm from the Pilsudski Sq. in the centre of Warsaw. They walked the streets up to the Sejm, and then through Jerozolimskie Ave. to the Prime Minister office. The thousands of people were led by a car. Thousands of flags and banners with anti-government policy towards the Labour Code were displayed; people blew whistles, trumpets and sirens.

Several members of liberal society Koliber tried to interrupt the manifestation. The youths demanded liberalisation of the Code.

The mob of protesters whistled at the opposing manifestation. The unionists handed petitions against changes in the Labour Code to the Sejm Spokesman Marek Borowski.

From the Sejm the demonstration marched to the Prime Minister offices. The building was protected by two rows of barriers and several hundred of policemen in full combat gear. "Solidarnosc" delegation was met by Marek Wagner, Chief of PM Chancellery, and Jerzy Hausner, Minister of Labour. They were handed petition demanding the government to withdraw the amendments to the Code.

Although before the manifestation the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarnosc" issued an appeal to other trade unions for active support for the protest, only a few other unions joined the protest, including Solidarnosc '80 and Independent Miner's Union. OPZZ did not call upon its members to join the demonstration, but also did not forbid it.

Several incidents took place during the demonstration, but considering the size and tension accompanying the event they had no influence of the course of the manifestation.

Our manifestation was supported by many foreign trade union organisations. All of them NSZZ Solidarnosc would like to express words of gratitude and thank for their solidarity.

WHY DOES "SOLIDARNOSC" NOT WANT THE CODE?

Janusz Sniadek, Vice-president of the Union: In the amendment the government postulates the overtime work to be paid only 50% of the hour rate. This proposal is harmful for the workers. This obviously reduces the employers' costs, but does not improve the situation of the unemployed. The employers would prefer to employ their workers overtime having the right to pay less. The government argues that these savings would be spent on investments. In my opinion they would cover increasing costs of energy and taxes. Another issue is the question of possibility of employing a worker for fixed-term contracts for a number of times.

This means uncertainty of keeping a job. The Code also is supposed to make it easier to terminate collective agreements. There are about 13 thousand such agreements in Poland. Vast majority of companies does not have such regulations so it is hypocrisy to say that this would help small employers. But this issue may cause unrest and strikes in defence of the Code in big companies.