RPP members contradict themselves in court over back pay claim

Yesterday, a Labor Court in Warsaw held a hearing on the lawsuit filed by six members of Monetary Policy Council (RPP). Bogulaw Grabowski, Cezary Jozefiak, Jerzy Pruski, Grzegorz Wojtowicz, Dariusz Rosati and Wieslawa Ziolkowska each demand zl. 325,000 from the president of the Central Bank (NBP), Leszek Balcerowicz, as outstanding wages. In accordance with the NBP law, the RPP members, if considered NBP employees, should earn as much as the deputy president of the bank, which is nearly zl. 36,000 - zl. 10,000 more than they earn now. In court, the claimants tried to prove that they are actually employed by the central bank. "Otherwise the labor court could not decide on the matter," explained Grabowski. They also demanded payment of a so-called thirteenth salary and quarterly bonus, which only workers of the bank are entitled to. The judge asked Grabowski and Rosati about a letter to a former president of the NBP, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, in which they protested against "considering the council members as NBP employees". "As I understand it, our letter doesn't prejudge our case," replied Rosati. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 18) M.K.