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13 March, 2001Steelworkers protest the further weakening of Katowice Steelworks.
POLAND: Eight workers have been on a hunger strike at Katowice Steelworks in southern Poland since March 8. The strikers started their sit-in to protest the decision by banks to withdraw credits from the financially troubled company.
According to the Polish news agency PAP, protests first began a month ago with a demonstration in Katowice by 2,000 people who were demanding talks with the government. A spokesperson for the IMF-affiliated Solidarity trade union, which represents workers at the plant, said that although a delegation of hunger strikers did meet with government officials at the end of last week, there was little hope that their discussions would produce concrete results.
Katowice Steelworks is Poland's largest steel producer, with a 5 million ton annual capacity.
According to the Polish news agency PAP, protests first began a month ago with a demonstration in Katowice by 2,000 people who were demanding talks with the government. A spokesperson for the IMF-affiliated Solidarity trade union, which represents workers at the plant, said that although a delegation of hunger strikers did meet with government officials at the end of last week, there was little hope that their discussions would produce concrete results.
Katowice Steelworks is Poland's largest steel producer, with a 5 million ton annual capacity.