Szczecin Shipyard saga continues as workers protest

On Friday the Economy Minister Jacek Piechota, Labor Minister Jerzy Hausner and management and trade union representatives of the Szczecin Shipyard discussed an alternative concept for the yard's rescue. The results of the talks were awaited by 2,000 shipyard workers carrying banners bearing the slogans, "Miller, Piechota, the shipyard won't forgive you," and "Piechota and Miller deceived the shipyard". The yard's employees suspected that the alternative to the previous rescue plan would be to declare the shipyard bankrupt. After the meeting Piechota, who came out to address the public, was greeted by an angry mob hurling eggs but nonetheless tried to assure workers that they would lose nothing but would keep their jobs and continue building ships. He announced the possibility of re-launching production thanks to a new debt-free company controlled by the treasury and capitalized by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP). "The business will go on thanks to a new company unencumbered by bad debts. I have just spoken with Justice Minister Barbara Piwnik and she assured me that those who drove the shipyard into its current state will bear the consequences of their actions. Besides, we are beating the USA [World Cup team] two-nil, which I think is also good news," Piechota told the shipyard's workers. (Gazeta Wyborcza, June 15-16, p. 3) A.Z.