Sugar unions threaten industrial action if no privatization date is set

Leaders of trade unions representing the workers at sugar refineries belonging to the Slaska Spolka Cukrowa group have demanded that a date be set for the privatization of the group' s 16 plants. After no agreement was reached at a meeting yesterday with Deputy Treasury Minister Hubert Laszkiewicz, the Solidarity trade union warned that it would start protest action to force the ministry to approve the privatization. A potential buyer of SSC, Saint Louis Sucre, has so far failed to obtain the necessary approval from the Interior Ministry to go ahead with the deal. If no agreement on the sale of SSC is reached within a month, the group may be compelled to join the giant Polski Cukier holding that is to be formed under a bill recently adopted by parliament. Strike action has been going on for the past week at four sugar refineries belonging to the Kalisko-Koninska group, by workers urging that the Pfeiffer und Langen concern from Germany be allowed to go ahead with a planned purchase. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.21) M.T.