The shipyard workers' trade union at the Szczecin yard in the north-west of Poland has been meeting to decide what steps to take in connection with the expected rejection by Brussels of the Polish government's restructuring plan for the ailing yards.
The shipyard workers said they will strive for a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Treasury. Polish trade union workers also say they may stage a protest action to demand a reversal of the decision. ‘We want to know what the government is planning to do’ a trade union leader told Polish Press Agency (PAP). He added the final decision on demonstrations will be taken after consultations with the management board of the Szczecin shipyard.
Poland submitted shipyard rescue plans to Brussels on September 12, meeting the deadline. ISD Poland (owner of the Gdansk shipyard) suggested merging the Gdansk and Gdynia shipyards. A consortium of Mostostal Chojnice, a Polish metal company, wants to acquire the Szczecin yard.
Polish yards were all in private hands in the 1990s, but ran into trouble and ended up being renationalized, receiving large funding from the EU after Poland’s accession. However, the trouble deepened due to mismanagement and signing unprofitable contracts which did not secure them against a possible appreciation of the Polish currency, the zloty, and failed to foresee the steep increase in steel prices.
If Brussels goes ahead with its move, the Szczecin yard, along with two other plants in Gdansk and Gdynia, may have to return the received state subsidies and that may mean bankruptcy
The shipyard workers said they will strive for a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Treasury. Polish trade union workers also say they may stage a protest action to demand a reversal of the decision. ‘We want to know what the government is planning to do’ a trade union leader told Polish Press Agency (PAP). He added the final decision on demonstrations will be taken after consultations with the management board of the Szczecin shipyard.
Poland submitted shipyard rescue plans to Brussels on September 12, meeting the deadline. ISD Poland (owner of the Gdansk shipyard) suggested merging the Gdansk and Gdynia shipyards. A consortium of Mostostal Chojnice, a Polish metal company, wants to acquire the Szczecin yard.
Polish yards were all in private hands in the 1990s, but ran into trouble and ended up being renationalized, receiving large funding from the EU after Poland’s accession. However, the trouble deepened due to mismanagement and signing unprofitable contracts which did not secure them against a possible appreciation of the Polish currency, the zloty, and failed to foresee the steep increase in steel prices.
If Brussels goes ahead with its move, the Szczecin yard, along with two other plants in Gdansk and Gdynia, may have to return the received state subsidies and that may mean bankruptcy