POLAND

Created: 1/16/1981

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

POLAND

Member* of Solidarity ar* planning strike* today in Warsaw and othero protest various action* cf rcjim*. Partyho havo criticised the union fortrial ofompromise but must avoid appearing to capitulate. *Wm%

Talks between Warsaw's mayor aM Solidarity leaders reportedly broke down last- night, ana municipalworkers apparently willour-hour work stoppage this morning to protest the regime's decision not to pay workers who stayed off the job last Saturday. Factory workers in Potnan and Legnica also plan strikes for the same reason, and there mayransportation strike in Krakow. jaB(

Workers at an aircraft plant in Kielec alsotrike of indefinite duration to protest the government's refusal to recognise the independent farmers' unionthe use of police to break up two sit-in demonstrmelons earlier this week. Tha sit-in demonstration in risessow continued yesterday.

Workers in Olsstyn yesterdayne-hourstrike after the government failed to meet their union's demands toocal member of the parliament and publish some statements by the union, asea^

Eaoh of the planned job actions is relatively minor in itself, and Solidarity and the regime might be able toompromise on the diversa Issues. Tha strikes, however, may make it difficult for the regime to Warsaw cannot appear to give in totally tofor no other reason than that ths Soviets and other East European critic* wouldim view of another capitulation. A

Party leaders have already stepped up attacks against Solidarity, charging that the union has violated the Gdansk agreement, exceeded its legal role, and violated its own statutes. olitburo member asserted onthat the union had fostered an "irresponsibleof socialy calling for laborers to stay away from work last Saturday. He also said thatwas striving to sow "unrest, chaos, and tensions."

Approve Dal*

Another Politburo member said that the regime still "respected" Solidarity and is open to negotiations, but he added that the "process of renewal" is endangered by "anarchistic action." According to Western press reports party leader Kania said the regime could not give in on the Saturday work issue and accused "some people" ofto "blackmail.' Kania also said that there is no room in Polanduality of power.

Coal_

The regime seems, to be using the coal industry asn example of how much output will suffer if allSaturdays are work-free. In an agreement separate from the one signed in Gdansk last year, the regimeive-day workweek for coal minors. Officials are now laiming that if all miners take advantage of their rightree Saturday and do not voluntarily report to work, coal production for the year will beillion tons. The regime claims that, with Saturday work, autput would riseillion tons. Even thisercent below the level ftaeV

ecovery inharp drop in coaloccurred inolish officialsthe decrease in output adversely affected powerand industrial activity, especially insector. SJSBw .

i'i

Prospects for1 winter grainwhich normally accounts Cor aboutercent of theyearly grainpoor. Poland is nowerious food shortageesult of poor grain harvests90 and last year's sharply reduced output of foddersugar beets, and hay.

Excessively wet field conditions this fall delayed, and in some cases precluded, the sowing of winter grains, especially in eastern Poland. According to press reports, fall-sown grains occupy an area ofillionercent below plan and the smallest area sown

the condition of the crops before winter dormancy began was the worst in five years. In addition, some winterkill already has occurred because of insufficient snow cover to protect plants from severe teaveratures in mid-November and early December. In recent weeks, temperatures have moderated,rotective snow cover now blankets most of the country. >

It is still too early to assess fully the impact of -these developments on total grain productionhe shortfall in sown area could be offset by increased plantings of spring grains, bat poor weather conditions next spring and summer would lead to another bad harvest and force the Poles to buy large amounts of grain abroad. This, in turn, would further exacerbate their financial problems.

Original document.

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: