Railway workers protest at Warsaw's rail station

More than 50 trains will be stopped between 11:30am and 1:00pm, due to protesting railway workers who were initially going to stage the protest at the Centrail Railway Station in Warsaw, before announcing that the unionist moved to Warsaw's West Railway Station. Polish Rail Lines (PKP) is warning that the protest is illegal and may cause delays in trains running until the late afternoon. Upset passengers are suggesting other form of protesting.

PKP spokesman, Michał Wrzosek, has informed that the protest is illegal and may bring tens of thousand zlotys of losses. He added that PKP will charge the union, which organized the strike.

Railway workers are protesting against limitation in granting early retirements. "We are not fighting against passengers, but against the bill," said Henryk Grymel, chairman of Rada Sekcji Krajowej Kolejarzy NSZZ "Solidarność" in TVN24.

About one thousand of railway workers are expected to take part in the strike. During the protest railway tracks between the East and West Warsaw rail stations are expected to be blocked. After the protest, the unionists will head to President Lech Kaczyński with a petition concerning vetoing the bill. "Presidential veto is our only hope," said Grymel. In case President Kaczyński does not veto the bill, unionists have not ruled out a general strike.

Michał Boni, the head of the strategic advisers to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said in "Poranek TVN24" that every such protest should be respected, as they express emotions. However, he added that the Polish people do not understand that the longer they work the larger their pensions.

He also admitted that the President has a tough decision to make regarding early retirement. "I hope the President is on the team that thinks about the future, and not about temporary benefits," said Boni, stressing that longer period of professional activity is necessary, not only for the people, but also for the economy. (ZN)

Source: TVN24