-Caveat Lector- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 03:50:58 -0400 From: DAMN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: DAMN: 30-AUG-1999: Polish Miners Protest Against Industry Reforms Title: Polish Miners Protest Against Industry Reforms Author: Marcin Grajewski Date: 30-AUG-1999 Source: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, DAMN's labor topic specialist Reference: Labour Start: www.labourstart.org / Reuters http://infoseek.go.com/Content?arn=a0862LBY040reulb-19990830&qt=union+strike&sv=IS&lk=noframes&col=NX&kt=A&ak=news1486 Polish coal miners protested against government reform of the ailing industry but union plans for a nationwide warning strike appeared to have failed. Workers staged brief rallies in many of Poland's more than 50 black coal mines instead of downing tools for two hours as the unions had threatened they would do, said Jan Czypionka, spokesman for the government Coal Restructuring Agency. The Miners' Trade Union, the biggest of 12 unions that organised the protest, said 50,000 of Poland's 190,000 miners took part in the action and called it a success. "The action was to be a warning sign for the government. There will be more protests...including an indefinite strike unless the government begins serious negotiations with us," union head Jan Kisielinski told Reuters. Protests by miners, farmers and other workers are a serious challenge to the centre-right government whose popularity has plunged to the lowest level since it took office in 1997. They come at a time when the government is completing work on the 2000 budget, which the finance ministry wants to be tight despite mounting pressure for more spending. Monday's protest was against proposed changes to the mining reform programme which would speed up closures of loss-making pits and hasten dismissals of miners. The government has offered to pay each dismissed miner 50,000 zlotys ($12,520), much more than other workers were given when laid off in heavy industries that have collapsed since the 1989 fall of communism. Under a government plan approved last year, about half of all mines are to be closed, coal output lowered and some 115,000 miners made redundant. The mining sector was expected to return to profit in 2002 after debt bail-outs. But the assumptions became unrealistic this year when falling demand for coal pushed the industry's expected losses up to 3.3 billion zlotys from a forecast of 1.3 billion. ($1 US-3.993 Zloty) This is the DAMN News Email list http://damn.tao.ca To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Asking to: unsubscribe damn ***DAMN DISCLAIMER - IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE*** DAMN receives many unsolicited reports and tries but can not verify all information contained within. DAMN therefore disclaims responsibility for the information in this message and urges you to contact the reporter personally for further verification. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
