Poland
Content about workers' struggles and events in Poland.
1970-71: Uprising in Poland
A short history of the 1970-71 uprising by workers in Poland which saw strikes and occupations at workplaces across the country. Although suffering savage repression, the uprising forced the government to back down over plans to increase prices of basic consumer goods.
On the morning of December 14 1970, thousands of workers from the Gdansk shipyards downed tools and began marching into the city. Their objective was the local regional office of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), the party that had ruled the People's Republic of Poland since 1952. The protestors were met by police units and fighting between the two sides lasted into the evening.
Bitter death in a chocolate factory
Factory puts profit over safety.
In May 2008, Krzysztof Pruszewicz would have been 21. He was killed on April 16 in an industrial accident in the Vobro Chocolate Factory in Brodnica, Poland.
Greenberg, Yiddelle 1909-194?
Biography of Polish anarchist Yiddelle Greenberg, whose activity was crucial in the formation of the Polish anarchist movement.
A salute to a comrade,
Lionbridge: globalizing low wages
In December 2007, a trade-union called “Krajowa Federacja Pracownikow (KFP)” (Worker’s Federation) was formed in Lionbridge Poland, a subsidiary of Lionbridge Technologies, a US-based multinational with subsidiaries all over the world.
Lionbridge specializes in translations and adapting products to local markets (so called “globalization services”). Lionbridge is one of many US-based companies which move jobs from the US to countries with lower wages and working standards.
Poland: Three labour conflicts highlight the state's animosity towards Workers
Currently there are many labour conflicts in Poland, including various forms of strikes and protest. Almost 20 years after Poland's transition to a market economy, labour unrest is still strongest in the budget sector and in state-owned companies.
THE STRIKE IN BUDRYK: Miners get the shaft as elite get wealthy
The mining industry in Poland is still a quite healthy business. Fuel prices are rising as is the global demand for coal. Budryk is one of the mines in Poland that was making a very healthy profit – until a labour dispute began costing the mine losses of about 1 million US dollars per day.
Job loss at Cadbury UK as Polish state plans subsidies for corporation
Capitalist greed leads corporation to cut labour costs to the bone. Will workers and consumers fight back, asks Laure Akai?
The Cadbury Company plans to shut down its Keynsham plant, which would result in 500 lost jobs. Another 200 jobs will be cut in Bournville. These jobs are to be transferred to Poland by 2010. (The company plans to start additional chocolate production in Poland in 2008. It has also signed a deal with Barry Callebaut in Poland to outsource some production.
Poland: wildcat strike at PKS-Lomza
In Poland bus drivers held a one day wildcat strike against the appointment of a new director who wants the workers to purchase the company.
On Thursday November 22, a wildcat occupational strike was held in the bus company PKS-Lomza. 200 of the 250 workers there went on strike. 50 workers who are part of the Solidarity union were surprised by the action and didn't support it.
The workers protested against the dismissal of the director Adam Wykowski on Wednesday night. Workers striking on behalf of a fired director?
Poland: Bus drivers win strike
Bus drivers in Kielce have won their strike against privatisation.
After 17 days the bus drivers in the South Polish city of Kielce have surprisingly won their strike. The sale of the communal bus company MPK planned by the city’s mayor is stopped and MPK is given to the workers instead. The strike had been preceded by months of confrontation.
Poland 1956 - Vladan Vukliš
A history of the uprising in Poland, 1956 which began at the ZISPO factory in Poznan.
This is an English translation of the original Serbian. Further editing by libcom from the translated version.
Polish Revolt of 1956
Privatisation by the back door: The health workers’ strike and the future of medical care in Poland
Laure Akai analyses the neoliberal reforms to Poland's health service as the doctors' strike enters its fourth month.
Some hospitals have given up the strike, some hospitals are concluding private deals with doctors. Nurses have organised separately from the doctors with a slightly different agenda. And it well may turn out that the results of the strike are strikingly different salaries for health care workers throughout Poland and increased privatization of the health care industry.
