Unions on warpath over creation of new chemical giant

Trade unions connected with the Warsaw Pharmaceutical Concern (WZF) Polfa want to halt the creation of Polish Pharmaceutical Holding (PHF), which is due to debut on the stock exchange in 2005. The holding was registered on July 1 and will be formed from Polfa Pabianice, Polfa Warszawa and Polfa Tarchomin. However, union chiefs claim that the project has not been properly evaluated and is being pursued without public acceptance. According to WZF Polfa employees, PHF will cost zł.8 million to set-up and if the whole trading activity were to be taken over by the holding the expensive procedure of drugs registration would be necessary. They claim that the situation could damage the position of companies involved. The unions will demonstrate their opposition outside the Treasury Ministry on Thursday. (Parkiet, p. 4) A.F.