Farmers preparing for more protests

The announcement was made by Sławomir Izdebski, the head of the Farmers All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ), Monday.

Around 10,000 people are expected to take part in the protest, with Izdebski saying that it “will end only when our calls to dismiss Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki are met”.

Farmers are upholding their demands that they be given compensation from the government for crop damage caused by wild boars as well as greater intervention in the milk and pork markets.

Recent talks ended in fiasco, with a meeting between unions and the agriculture minister lasting less than an hour while hundreds of tractors descended on Warsaw, blocking major routes into the city.

According to Izdebski, miners from the August ’80 trade union are considering joining the farmers’ OPZZ action, with agricultural workers belonging to other unions possibly joining in Thursday’s demonstration.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz has said that she will be the one deciding on Sawicki’s fate, not the farmers. “Excuse me, but I don’t feel like choosing the trade union representatives, and they certainly won’t be choosing who’s a minister in my cabinet,” Kopacz underlined.

“It’s free country: some people want to work, some want to strike,” the PM commented. (jb)

Source: PAP