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POLAND: New Labor Troubles
The regime ie confronted vith iU> first potentially significant labor unrest in almost three months.
Dockworkars in the Baltic ports are planning tono-hour warning strike today to support demands for better work conditions, higher pay, and governmentof their union charter. Employees of theour-hour strike tomorrow to protest therejection of their candidate for airline director. In Silesia, some coal miners reportedly are threatening to slow down production unless they receive more food. jem
The dock and airline workers are threatening longer stoppages, possibly next week, if their grievances are not met. Solidarity leader Walesa has gone to Gdansk to try to help settle the dockworkers' dispute, but negotiations with the government apparently are deadlocked. mj
The upsurge in unrest probably stems in part from the dismal economic situation. Pood is in particularly short supply in Silesia. Last month, the government beganextra supplies to southern Poland in response to miners' complaints about the burdens of extra shift work. mm
Some Solidarity leaders also may believe it necessary tohow of union strength before the party congress to remind the delegates of the risks ofore conservative course. If labor unrest persists, it wouldhadowongress that already promises to be contentious. It could drawaway from internal party issues and intensify debates between moderates and hardliners over how best to carry out reform policies. mm}
New Polish Primate
Archbishop Jozef Glemp, the successor to the late Cardinal Wyszynski,ragmatic bishop whose extensive legal training will be useful to thc Church as Polandits politically tense searchore democratic society. Both Pope John Paul XI and Wyszynski probably
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agreed thatyear-old Glemp would be well suited for the moderating role that Wyszynski had perfected. According to one local Solidarity representative, Glemp is well liked by union members. MM]
Glemp will not quickly gain the personal status and authority of Wyszynski, but the Polish Church againeader who can speak out in times of trouble. Despite rumors that Wyszynski's powers might be divided, Glemp probably also will hold the highest administrative post of theof the Council of Bishops. he will have to move deftly to work out hiswith the bishops who previously were senior to him.
Original document.
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