When the government announced the day that they would discuss raising the retirement age, unions big and small decided to protest. A tent city was set up at the Parliament. There we raised a banner saying that „The strike is our best weapon” and gave out radical leaflets, including information about the general strike in Spain. We spoke for a long time with the rank and file members of mainstream unions about how their unions do not support the idea of general strikes and many of them agree that decisive action is necessary in situations like this, where the government is raising the retirement age to 67. Many sent greatings to comrades on Spain who were on strike and said that it should be that way in Poland.
After that we went to the Spanish Embassy for a picket against the labour reform. During the picket, we also spoke to some employees of the embassy that supported the strike.
-Support for the General Strike called by the CNTE in Spain. Picket at the Spanish Embassy and Demonstration. Mysliwiecka St. 4 in Warsaw at 16:00. At Copernicus Monument (Nowy Swiat 69) at 18:00.
March 30
-Action against the privatization of school cafeterias and the replacement of permanent staff by precarious workers. ZSP is organizing against the proposed closure of up to 800 public schools in Poland, against cuts in education, the privatization of auxiliary services and the liquidation of jobs. ZSP Education points out that the proposed privatization of school cafeterias means the liquidation of permanent jobs and an increase in the costs per meal as private catering companies charge more for these services. While the price per meal can increase between 30-70%, the difference will be pocketed by the private firms. The cafeteria staff will either be fired or transfered to the private firm using a legal loophole. As a result, they will become precarious workers in jobs known for extremely bad working conditions.
-Apoyo a la huelga general convocada por la CNTE en España. Concentración en la Embajada de España y manifestación. Calle Mysliwiecka 4 en Varsovia a las 16h. Ante el monumento a Copernicus (Nowy Swiat 69) a las 18h.
30 de marzo
-Acción contra la privatización de las cafeterías en las escuelas públicas y la sustitución del personal permanente por trabajadores precarios. ZSP está organizando en contra de la propuesta de cierre de casi 800 escuelas públicas en Polonia, contra los recortes en la educación, la privatización de servicios auxiliares y la liquidación de puestos de trabajo. ZSP Educación señala que la propuesta de privatización de las cafeterias significa la liquidación de puestos de trabajo permanentes y un aumento en los costes por comida, ya que las empresas privadas de catering cobran más por estos servicios. Mientras que el precio por comida puede aumentar entre el 30-70%, la diferencia será embolsada por las empresas privadas. El personal de la cafetería o bien serán despedidos o transferidos a la empresa privada usando un vacío legal. Como resultado, se convertirán en trabajadores precarios en un sector conocido por sus muy malas condiciones de trabajo.
On February 17 the ZSP took part in the international day of action in solidarity with the striking workers of EULEN-ABB in Cordoba. A picket was held in Warsaw outside of an office of ADECCO, which is involved in the conflict as its firm EUROCEN has supplied replacements for the striking workers.
We pointed out that we critical not only of ADECCO's role in this conflict in Spain, but also its role, along with other temp agencies, in building precarious working conditions in Poland and around the world.
El 17 de febrero la ZSP tomó parte en el día internacional de acción en solidaridad con los trabajadores de EULEN-ABB en huelga en Córdoba. Se realizó un piquete en Varsovia en frente de una oficina de Adecco. La ETT está involucrada en el conflicto a traves de su empresa EUROCEN que substituyó los trabajadores en huelga.
La ZSP crítica no sólo del papel de Adecco en este conflicto, sino también su papel, junto con otras ETTs, en la construcción de la precariedad en Polonia y en todo el mundo.
On December 19, Roche Poland (the pharmaceuticals company) dismissed an activist of the ZSP without any reason. The orders came directly from corporate headquarters and he was asked to leave immediately. The company refused to give any reason in writing or any other documents.
The dismissal came on the first day after a large article with the comrade appeared in the main newspaper. Although no real reason was given, it is largely felt that this decision was related to his work in the union.
El 19 de diciembre, Roche Polonia (la empresa farmacéutica) despedió a un activista de la ZSP sin ninguna razón. Las órdenes provenían directamente de la sede corporativa y le exigían que dejará su puesto inmediatamente. La empresa se negó a dar ninguna razón por escrito o cualquier otro documento.
El despido se produjo al día siguiente de que el periódico más importante publicara un articulo done aparecía nuestro compañero. Aunque no se le dió ningúna razón real, muchos consideran que esta decisión estaba relacionada con su trabajo en el sindicato.
Some members of the ZSP from Warsaw are being sued for a film they made and put on the internet. Other members of the Tenants' Defense Committee are also being sued because the film was on their website. The video documents the problems of two families who have been having problems with their landlady, who wants to evict them, for years.
Algunos miembros de la ZSP de Varsovia están siendo demandados por una película que hicieron y subieron a Internet. Otros miembros del Comité de Defensa de Inquilinos también están siendo procesados por estar la película en su sitio web. El video documenta los problemas de dos familias con su casera, que los quiere desalojar desde hace años.
Update 25.03.2011: The CEO of OTTO agreed to new talks in Venray on Thursday. Three workers received compensation. ZSP will meet with OTTO to discuss the issues in general and is organizing informational events in different cities where many workers are recruited.
On March 21 a group of Polish workers, together with the AGA/Vrije Bond and members of the anarchosyndicalist union ZSP did an action at the headquarters of OTTO Workforce in Venray, Holland, against exploitation and bad work and living conditions. OTTO has been cheating workers from Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia working on precarious contracts in Holland.
