ZUS unions threaten strike action in protest against Gajek's dismissal

Trade unions representing employees of Social Insurance Company ZUS have threatened to call a strike, in protest against the dismissal of ZUS chairman Leslaw Gajek. The trade unions described the move by deputy prime minister and labor minister Longin Komolowski to remove Gajek as, " Disadvantageous for ZUS beneficiaries, for its employees, and for the economy." They said the decision on strike action could be taken as early as today. Yesterday Komolowski and proposed new ZUS head Ewa Lewicka held a press conference at which they attempted to clarify the circumstances surrounding Gajek's dismissal. However, they were widely judged to have failed to provide a convincing explanation for the need to replace him. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) M. S.-C.