Despite possibility of new contracts, strike threat grows at Szczecin Shipyard

Bank PKO BP has agreed to offer the New Szczecin Shipyard (SSN) a loan of zl. 440 million. This however, is provided that the company manages to put together a recovery program and that the Industrial Development Agency finalizes the registration of shares. "The money will be used to complete three ships that are now under construction," said Andrzej Stachura, president of SSN. "This week I am visiting Germany and Norway. In Hamburg, I will sign contracts allowing the three ships to be completed. I may also accept an option to build new ones. In Norway I will talk about a contract to build a chemical tanker ship," added Stachura. The outcome of these negotiations will be known within a week, but the the shipyard workers are still planning to go ahead with a strike ballot next Monday to decide about future action. A strike seems possible as there still is no program of financial aid for the 4,000 workers who are about to be fired. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 3) M.K.