Strike at Ostrowiec Steel Mill following takeover by Celsa

Trade unionists in the Ostrowiec Steel Mill (ZOHO) yesterday begun an occupational strike at the plant. The employees are protesting against the sale of the enterprise to Spanish investor Celsa. "The decision to strike was made by all three trade unions active in the steelworks. We are protesting against the plans of the receiver, who has broken all current agreements," said a Solidarity union member, Zbigniew Chamera. The agreements relate to promises made by the receiver, who said that will be no layoffs, whereas Celsa which won the tender offering zł. 53.1 million, plans to close the plant down for the time being. "Celsa has been planning this from the beginning. Our steel mill has all the necessary quality certificates and could be a serious competitor to the Spanish company," said Marek Płużański, ZOHO's spokesman, the company which currently leases the mill's assets. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B5) A.K.