Farmers threaten blockades if government doesn’t buy their milk for schools

Farmer trade unions have presented a proposal to the government for assistance to Polish agriculture and are threatening protests, most likely road blockades, if it is not accepted. The program, envisaging greater government influence on food prices, has been presented by unions headed by Wladyslaw Serafin. It is not yet certain whether other farmer’s unions, “Samoobrona” led by Andrzej Lepper and the Solidarity trade union, will join the protest. Aside from ensuring intervention prices for crops, the unions are asking the government to stimulate demand for their products by subsidizing milk and butter for public schools. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.19) T.J