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On March 31, we marched in Warsaw against various anti-social nightmares created by the capitalist disease. Despite the mixture of rain, hail and snow throughout the day, and despite rumours in the papers that we'd start a riot and occupy key government offices, which scared away some of the people, a few hundred people marched through the city, stopping at various locations to talk about problems such as eviction, reprivatization of buildings, militarism, the high cost of education, poor working conditions, anti-union repression, corruption in the government and the role of the police, etc. etc. etc.
Members of ZSP and some Spanish students protested in solidarity with the general strike in Spain. The ZSP called on local people also to make a general strike, including a worldwide general strike against capitalism. Chants were made in Polish and Spanish and drew a lot of attention from passersby.
Earlier in the day, the ZSP had also visited a protest against raising pension reforms. We raised the banner about a general strike and many rank and file workers came to talk and take photos with us. Even though these people are in a union which does not like the idea of general strikes (Solidarity), many of the rank and file members think differently than the union bosses and were quite interested also in learning about the strike in Spain. They send their solidarity to the strikers. Oddly enough, when visiting the Spanish embassy, we also received support from a couple of the embassy workers.
Unfortunately we were a little sabotaged by rain, but never mind. When we see the strike action that our comrades are making, our moods were very sunny.
Activists from the ZSP and the Tenants' Defence Committee strongly condemned the policies of the government and the city of Warsaw during a press conference dedicated to the increasing number of evictions to be expected in light of the upcoming end of the protection period on March 31.
There is no perspective for millions of families that cannot afford to buy a flat or to rent one at the commercial rates. In addition, the government has made the eviction process easier. After March 31 (the end of the protection period), people can be thrown out onto the street without the need to give them replacement housing. This is one of the reasons why we will be demonstrating in Warsaw on March 31 against the antisocial policies of the government.
On March 20 we went to a session of the local council to protest plans to privatize more school cafeterias in Warsaw. The city wants to privatize cafeterias in 66 schools this year, firing 190 kitchen staff. The kitchens would then be run by private companies who would employ people on much worse conditions.
ZSP and ZSP education workers oppose these plans and is organizing amongst the kitchen staff and parents. Besides the problems of the casualization of the kitchen work, we see that the privatization of the cafeterias lead to higher prices and aggravate already existing class differences. Last year, when 33 cafeterias were privatized in Warsaw, the cost of meals rose by at least 30%, making them unaffordable for some parents. The present average cost of meals makes the price of 20 meals equal to about 10% of the minimum wage.
The privatizations are just part of a series of attacks against education and education workers which include the liquidation of schools and various aspects of privatization and casualization of jobs in schools.
On March 30 we will hold a demo in defense of the work places and for decent conditions for all staff.
On March 16 ZSP was planning to hold a demonstration at the Russian Embassy in support of Russian antifascists. Unfortunately earlier that day, police raided a squat in Warsaw, using tear gas, bringing water cannons and the LRAD. Since most comrades were there, we could not hold the demo as planned, but since some comrades showed up, we picketed anyway. We complained about the actions of nationalist, racist and fascist groups in Russia and the actions of the government, both in sometimes supporting this and in attempting to criminalize antifascists.
Solidarity is sent from those who couldn't come but still support the struggle against fascism.
On March 15, we protested at the Roche office in Poznan, demanding reinstatement of our comrade, the recognition of his employment status and an end to shady non-employment practices which deny workers this status and benefits. The demonstration came in a charged atmosphere as Roche revealed that it actually plans to outsource the work currently being done by fake independent contractors and workers sent by intermediaries.
Instead of using the people already working for them, Roche was to just move the work off-site and get rid of their little labour problem. It is unclear when these changes will be made, whether the jobs will go gradually or all at once.
There is some speculation as to whether the company got rid of our colleague as to scare people and get rid of an organizer before the people would lose their jobs.
ZSP is currently discussing the possibility that more workers sue the company for recognition of their status and to claim benefits they were owed.
Today, as part of the days of action in solidarity with the Ryanair Don't Care campaign, we gave out leaflets in the main square in Poznan. Passersby were quite curious what it was about and a few were quite shocked or disgusted to find out about the recruitment scam in Britain. Several people said to please send their best wishes to the campaign.
March 12-18 is the International Week of Support for the Ryanair Don't Care campaign. ZSP has been postering and handing out leaflets about the situation of workers in Ryanair and about the campaign. We've published an article on the internet and have been encouraging people to send Ryanair protest emails.
Informational actions are planned for March 14-16 in a couple of cities in Poland. On the photo is an action at Frederic Chopin Airport in Warsaw.
Since we are also handing out leaflets in airports and trains, we will be distributing leaflets in different languages. An English-language leaflet can be downloaded here.
The ZSP-IWA declares its active support for the general strike called by the CNT-AIT.
We support the stance of this union, which rejects the labor reform and any negotiations over rights already won, calling instead for new struggles of the working class against the assaults of capitalism.
For the CNT, the strike of March 29 should be just the beginning of a process of increasing and sustained mobilization, The ZSP-AIT also understands that a one-day strike is not enough to maintain the pressure against the capitalists' assaults, thus we call on workers to increase their struggle and not to give it over to the unions which may negotiate away their power.
On March 8 there was a protest at Roche global headquarters in Switzerland organized by the local FAU and ZSP. Speeches were made in German and English describing the situation in Roche Polska which inspired the picket. We demanded the reinstatement of our comrade on a regular contract and payment of benefits to all the fake independent contractors.
The picket drew a lot of attention and many employees took leaflets and stopped to talk to the picketers.
The ZSP informed the headquarters that it will not back down and will continue with protests and the information campaign aimed towards the workers.
