Transport minister: passengers will suffer during railway strike

Minister Slawomir Nowak: photo - PAP/Jakub Kaminski

Rail services are set to come to a standstill on Friday from 7am to 9am, with railway workers protesting against benefit cuts.

“Planning the strike for the morning, when many people go to work or school, means that unionists want above all to make life difficult for passengers,” Minister Slawomir Nowak argued in an open letter published on the ministry's web site.

The minister noted that weather forecasts indicate that Friday will be especially cold, and that in some regions, school holidays will begin.

Railway workers are protesting against Polish State Railways' (PKP) bid to abolish discounts on railway travel for retired railway workers, a project that affects some 100,000 pensioners.

PKP believes that it can save 27 million zloty (6.49 million euro) per year through the abolition of the old system.

Talks collapsed last week, with trade unionists pulling out of the discussion process.

“Sometimes it seems to me that it would be easier for employers to communicate with employees individually rather than with the unions representing them, Nowak declared.

The Confederation of Railway Trade Unions has yet to reveal quite how widespread the strikes will be. (nh)