NSZZ Solidarność convention agrees on protests

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At its convention held in September 2003, Poland's Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) agreed to consult its member unions over national protest action against government policies. A general strike is not ruled out, but is considered unlikely by observers.

The Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (Niezależny Samorządny Zwiazek Zawodowy Solidarność, NSZZ Solidarność) - one of Poland's two main trade union confederations (PL0308106F) - held its latest convention in Stalowa Wola on 27-27 September 2003. Prior to the meeting, experts were predicting a clash between 'hawks' and 'doves' within the organisation. The hawks are eager to see an escalation of the various current protests in Polish industry, particularly in the mining sector (PL0309101F), and take a negative view of the results achieved to date by the national Tripartite Commission for Social and Economic Affairs (Komisja Trójstronna do Spraw Społeczno-Gospodarczych) (PL0309106F). The more conciliatory elements within NSZZ Solidarność, led by its chair, Janusz Śniadek – elected at the 15th congress in 2002 (PL0210103N) - want to avoid further unrest and emphasise the need to continue social dialogue.

The first day of the 2003 convention was dominated by speeches from NSZZ Solidarność hawks, who showered criticism on the policies currently followed by the government, especially with respect to the mining and metal processing industries. A sermon delivered by Bishop Frankowski, known as the 'Solidarity bishop', set the tone by criticising prevailing policy towards workers at length. Piotr Duda, the NSZZ Solidarność leader in the coal mining district of Silesia, proposed a general strike, a theme enthusiastically taken up by subsequent speakers. It was suggested that the chief executive body of the confederation, the national commission, should be transformed into an 'inter-entity protest committee' which would be charged with coordinating such a strike. Many speakers criticised NSZZ Solidarność's current leadership, Mr Śniadek included, for adopting an excessively submissive attitude towards the government. There was also talk of 'stopping discussions with this government' and of walking out from the Tripartite Commission. However, Kazimierz Grajcarek, a key opposition figure within the union, explained in a television interview that the objective of the contemplated general strike would not be to overthrow the government, but to 'force the government to govern and to take heed of the employees'.

The second day of the convention was considerably calmer. Addressing the delegates, Mr Śniadek said that 'the government of [Prime Minister] Miller has completely disgraced itself. What we have here is utter substantive, political, and ethical bankruptcy.' He moved on, however, to an appeal against convening a protest committee and to propose a resolution which 'obliges the national commission to ... carry out consultations among all unions with respect to the forms of a national protest action, a general strike included'. The delegates accepted this proposal, with only one vote cast against it, and consultations should proceed as follows: on 2 October 2003, the NSZZ Solidarność national commission will draw up the unions' demands, as well as possible protest scenarios; an appropriate questionnaire will then be sent out to various employing entities; upon the return of the questionnaires, on 22 October, the national commission will decide on the most suitable form of protest. Mr Śniadek also disagreed with the idea that NSZZ Solidarność should leave the Tripartite Commission, breaking off social dialogue with the government and with the employers' organisations.

Various observers believe that, at present, it would be difficult to hold a general strike. Professor Włodzimierz Pańków, an expert in Polish industrial relations, told the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper on 29 September: 'I feel like laughing when I see reasonable people coming up with ideas such as that about the general strike. Organising it is impossible.' Professor Pańków added that, while there are sectors of the economy and regions where strikes remain a possibility, a general strike is not in prospect.