Support for shipyard strike declines amid accusations of union manipulation

The strike at the Stocznia Gdynia shipyard appears to be losing its force, with the Stoczniowiec union, which is accused of starting the industrial action, under fire from both the company's management and rival labor unions. Yesterday the customary gathering of protesters outside the company headquarters failed to materialize. "People have understood that this strike is not supported by the majority of the workforce, and that they have been manipulated by one of the labor unions," commented Jan Guminski from the All Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ). Both the OPZZ and the Solidarnosc labor unions have distanced themselves from the strike action, which began on Monday when workers walked out in demand of higher pay and a halt to the company's restructuring. Stoczniowiec has called for the entire Stocznia Gdynia management to be fired. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3; Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) P.J.