Solidarity threatens nationwide strike
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
24.04.2013 12:42
Leader of the Solidarity trade union Piotr Duda threatened a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, prior to a meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Piotr Duda, leader of the Solidarity trade union: photo - PAP/Jakub Kaminski
The warning follows a strike in Silesia last month that was spearheaded by Solidarity in protest against proposed changes to the labour code which would extend the use of 'junk' employment contracts.
According to Duda, the proposed amendments limit employment rights and reduce overtime payments.
“We are capable of a general strike across the country,” Duda claimed in an interview with the TVN 24 news channel.
“The condition for any talks is the withdrawal from parliament of the government's draft legislation on flexible working hours,” he said.
Duda added that the action is timetabled for September, but that a referendum will be held among union members to determine the scale of the operation.
“We want to know what the unionists want in the first place: a general strike or a large national demonstration that will be held in Warsaw,” he said.
“We won't leave Warsaw until we have won,” he added. (nh)