Employers and unions close to final compromise on labor law changes

Yesterday the Polish Confederation of Private Employers (PKPP) and the National Trade Unions' Alliance (OPZZ) reached a consensus on changes to the labor code and announced a common position with employers. Now they must both appeal to their respective leadership authorities who will decide whether to accept the compromise. "We agreed that it is worth to sign such an deal in view of maintaining social peace, as well as to help accelerate the work on the labor code in parliament," according to Henryka Bochniarz a leaders of PKPP. "This is a compromise, which obviously does not satisfy neither party, but it is one that can be accepted by both of them", "It will open the way to social dialogue," said Maciej Manicki, the leader of OPZZ. Both organizations were afraid of changes that parliament might introduce to the labor law. The employers and trade unions also invited the Solidarity trade union and the Confederation of Polish Employers as partners of the Trilateral Commission to sign the agreement. "This is an indication that everyone wants a constructive social dialogue," said Labor Minister Jerzy Hausner. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 6) P.W.