National rail strike averted thanks to last minute talks

Following over 12 hours of negotiations between the government and the Strike Committee of Polish State Railways (PKP), the planned national rail strike has been postponed by three weeks. According to the agreement signed by both sides yesterday, PKP next year will receive zł. 1.13 billion, out of which zł. 538 million will be devoted to support regional passenger lines. These funds are already part of next year's state budget. According to PKP unions, a large part of the sum will come from local governments' tax revenues, zł. 100 million will come from sale and lease of PKP owned real estate, while the rest will be received from structural funds as part of aid from the EU, as well as from funds of the program to restructure the company. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.K.