Cegielski to deliver more bad news to its employees

Gazeta Wyborcza has learned that the new restructuring plan of engineering company H. Cegielski-Poznan (HCP), will mean further cuts in wages and 200 redundancies. The proposals will be discussed with trade unions later this week. The economic situation of the company substantially worsened after the bankruptcy of its major client Szczecin Shipyard last year. HCP was forced to lay off over 500 employees and reduce wages by 25%. In 2002, the company recorded losses of zl. 5.5 million and is designed to allow the company to post a profit for 2003. "I do not think that firing someone or lowering wages will improve anything," said trade union representative Marcel Szary. Cegielski's spokesman claims that proposals will be discussed on Thursday and their final shape cannot be predicted. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 5) M.M.