Gov't stands firm against teachers warning strike

Education Minister Roman Giertych tried to belittle the teachers' strike saying that only 23% of schools participated in the protest. Representatives of the Polish Teachers' Association (ZNP) who called the strike accused the Minister of lying and they presented data proving that the number of protesters exceeded 50%. Prime Minister Kaczyński declared that the teachers cannot expect a pay rise. "A 20% pay increase is impossible since there is no money in the budget," he stated. ZNP representatives met with Deputy Prime Minister Przemysław Gosiewski to discuss earlier retirement schemes for teachers. "We did not receive any concrete proposals," said ZNP president Sławomir Broniarz. The trade unionists are to meet with the Education Minister today, but they have already hardened their position, declaring that if negotiations fail they will launch a general strike. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4; Dziennik, p. 12) E.B.