Government adopts a hard line against striking miners

Representatives of the miners' unions announced that if the government does not meet their demands they will decide on Wednesday to take more radical steps and commence and general strike. Government representatives do not expect to hold talks with the striking miners. According to Deputy Economy Ministry Eugeniusz Postolski, it is the job of the management of the mines to negotiate with the unions and there is no way the already planned increases in wages will be exceeded. Kompania Węglowa, which is the largest coal mine in Europe, saw  40,000 of its miners go on strike yesterday. The company had a loss of over zł.50 million last year, while each day of strike brings about additional costs of zł.43 million. "I am not taking away the right to protest from anyone, but I would be ashamed of the government if it gave in to whoever shouts the loudest," announced Premier Tusk. (Dziennik, p. 8; Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.K.