Miners and government seem set on collision course following ballot

Economy Minister Jacek Piechota said at Friday's Sejm debate on mining that it is impossible to save the mining sector without appropriately restructuring the pits. "We are not in a position to maintain all the jobs in mines at the cost of the country. You must remember that it is the mining sector that must adjust to the needs of the economy and not the other way round." On Saturday, the coal miners ballot revealed that 95% of the 92,000 miners who voted, reject government plans to close down mines, which was to slash one in four jobs in the overproducing sector while writing off debts and curbing production to demand levels. It is not clear if the government will now water down the reform, making it more palatable for unions, or continue with the plan in spite of fears of widespread protests from the sector's 135,000 strong workforce. "The referendum outcome is a warning for the government. If we do not reach an agreement then protests can start as soon as next week," Dominik Kolorz, deputy chief of a Katowice miners Solidarity union, told Reuters. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Dec. 7-8, p. 1; Reuters) A.Z.