PGNiG unions threaten strikes, radical measures possible

Trade unions at national gas monopoly Polish Gas and Oil Mining (PGNiG) are threatening a strike starting Jan. 3, 2001, demanding state financial support for the company and a stop to PGNiG's division into four spin-offs and a production firm. The unions claim that their talks with the government yielded no results. They are demanding that the company be granted "public utility" status, and all its debts be restructured. Moreover, they would like the government to guarantee long- term support loans for PGNiG and introduce new gas tariffs. Meanwhile, PGNiG president Andrzej Lipko, worried with protesters' threats to cut-off gas supplies to the company's major debtors, has created a special team that would monitor the safety of the gas supply system. Trade unions themselves admit that cutting off gas supply would be a radical decision. Boleslaw Potyrala, head of the Solidarity trade union for the gas industry says: "One should approach such possibility with care. A rapid cut-off of gas supplies brings many dangers, including a serious explosion. Still, if the government does not listen to us, we will be forced to take drastic steps". (Puls Biznesu, p.7) J.K.