Polish Post On Verge of Protests?

Nearly 70 members of the trade unions of the Poczta Polska (PP) Polish state-owned postal service staged a 24 hour sit-down protest at PP’s headquarters in Warsaw. They are protesting against plans to restructure the service without the prior signing of a benefits package for employees. The future of PP was discussed yesterday by the unions, PP’s management, Sejm MPs and representatives from the Infrastructure Ministry. “The decision to stay in the building was made by a joint union committee (WRZ),” said WRZ’s spokesman Jerzy Lach. WRZ will also call on PP’s employees to take a leave of absence on 29 April to picket in front of PP offices across the country. Meanwhile, PP’s spokesman said the negotiations concerning the benefits package will be resumed on Wednesday. The unions fear the planned restructuring will result in mass layoffs, and are complaining that the management did not hold a dialogue with the staff.