POLISH SOLIDARITY UNION BLASTS GOP "NEOLIBERAL"

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000397

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PL
SUBJECT: POLISH SOLIDARITY UNION BLASTS GOP "NEOLIBERAL"
POLICIES

Classified By: Ambassador Victor Ashe, Reason 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Janusz Sniadek, President of Solidarity Trade Union,
told the Ambassador April 8 that Poland is only starting to
feel the effects of the global financial crisis, but said the
GoP should prepare for the worst case. The government is
doing virtually nothing, he argued, to mitigate the effects
of the downturn, other than public relations activities. The
current "neo-liberal" government is determined not to add to
government deficits, and has begun a worrisome process of
devolving health and education responsibilities to local
governments without corresponding funding. Sniadek cited
Tusk's recent comments at the anti-crisis summit hosted by
President Kaczynski about the inefficiency of other
countries' stimulus programs. In Sniadek's view, however,
elements of President Obama's stimulus package could be
useful models for Poland.


2. (C) Sniadek acknowledged that a majority of his union's
members probably support the largest opposition party, Law
and Justice (PiS),but he is determined not to repeat the
disastrous experience of affiliating the union with a
political party. (In the 1990s, Solidarity backed the
center-right government led by the Solidarity Electoral
Alliance, AWS.) In any event, he was unable to identify a
major political party that supported his trade union's
objectives. According to Sniadek, the ruling Civic Platform
(PO) is not even trying to help workers; PiS continues to
focus on "chasing bad guys," even in the opposition; and the
Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is not a real party of the
left. He said Solidarity has better ties with European
Social Democrats than SLD, and he condemned the willingness
of SLD parliamentary club chairman Wojciech Olejnicak to
barter away the early retirement benefits of workers in some
sectors when he negotiated a deal with the PO.


3. (C) Out of frustration with the government's lack of
action on the anti-crisis front, workers and employers are
teaming up, according to Sniadek. The government has not
responded to a March 13 package of anti-crisis measures
suggested by a committee of workers and employers; if the
government continues to be silent, the committee will go
public with its criticism around the end of next week.
Sniadek lamented that many workers became interested in
organizing when it was too late, and their factories were
already closing. However, he noted that union members had
already engaged in demonstrations in some sectors --
particularly the defense sector -- and warned that if a
significant number of teachers are laid off in the fall,
there will likely be major protests.


4. (C) Comment. Sniadek's pessimism contrasts starkly with
recent comments we have heard from business and government
leaders, who tell us the "Tripartite Commission" of
government, workers, and employers is working productively to
agree on legislation to protect jobs and workers. End
Comment.
ASHE