Pracujesz na umowie śmieciowej? Możemy pomóc!
ZSP strongly protests against the actions of the police during Saturday's demonstration on Trzech Krzyży Sq. In Warsaw and against them in general.
While many millions of people in Poland are condemned to poverty, the government spends our public money on protecting the elites and (unsuccessful) attempts to scare the people that do not agree with this system and decided to publicly show their opposition. On Saturday, there was an army of police on the streets, making life difficult for ordinary people by creating cordons and detours. The police scared off and threatened many people on the way to the demonstration that if they go, they would not be allowed to leave. Police armed with tear gas was mobilized against demonstrators, there were snipers and a new instrument of repression, the LRAD.
ZSP organized two demonstrations called „Days of Rage” on 27-28 May in Warsaw during the Visegrad Summit and the visit of US President Barak Obama.
The day before, 26 May, we warmed up with a protest at the City Council together with tenant activists. There they were voting on a series of price raises: for public transport (a 100% increase), for sewage, water and again for rent in public housing. (Rents were raised just 2 years ago 200-300%.) We interrupted the session with the protest and the chairwoman of the Council immediately asked the city guards to intervene – but this brought no result. After some time, knowing that there would be many speeches against these plans, we let the session continue. The Council agreed that we could have four speakers present arguments officially in the Council. At the same time, they refused to allow the opinion of Solidarity trade union to be read.
FF Mercantil runs a sweatshop in Araxa, Brazil. It produces football shoes, uniforms, clothing and other accessories for the Lotto and Finta brands. The working conditions are poor - long hours and work weeks, excessive heat, fumes from glue, insufficient pay. The workers began to organize themselves. That is when the repression began.
A member of the COB-AIT was fired for this reason, as were several of his colleagues. What is more, some goons showed up at the office of the union in Araxa, threatening people with "pistoleros". Such hired thugs are known to shoot inconvenient unionists. The boss's henchmen also tried to take photos of those present.
We cannot let the bosses get away with such behaviour! A support campaign is underway. You can send an email protest using the form on the page: www.lotto.zsp.net.pl. There is also more information about the case there, in different languages.
The workers are demanding an 8-hour work day, a 5-day working week, air conditioning and extra pay for working in hazardous conditions.
COB has called for a boycott of the Lotto and Finta brands as a way to put pressure on them. BTW, the Lotto webpage contains a bullshit self-promotional blurb on "corporate responsibility" while it is using sweatshop labor to produce its goods!
Pass this news on and please support the workers' struggle today!
Rumors have been circulating in the press about the ban of the protest and action entitled „Barracks for Obama”, organized by the ZSP, to be followed by an anti-war demonstration. These are part of the demonstrations planned during the visit of Barack Obama and the presidents of other countries for the Meeting of Central European Presidents.
The campaign against the abuse of temporary labour at OTTO Workforce continues! Maciej, a worker who was injured lifting things at work, is still on sick leave and his fate is unclear. After actions taken by Priama akcia and ZSP at OTTO offices and an email / fax campaign, OTTO agreed to pay Maciej his sick leave pay and indeed he received a payment last week. But his situation is far from resolved.
On April 27, ZSP visited the OTTO Office in Warsaw to remind them of the case of Maciej, who has not been paid sick leave and was being jerked around by the company. We have been campaigning for the company to pay and they even promised to do so... only still no money yet. At the office we saw the manager for Central Europe, who just happened to be in Warsaw that day, so we went to talk to him and give him a red card for OTTO, just like OTTO gives red cards to workers who they want to fine.
After some discussion with the office in Holland, the manager told us (and the radio) that they would send money to Maciej on May 3 and would pay him until the end of his contract. His contract was temporary and would end in June. We would like OTTO to offer him new work at the end of the contract that will not cause damage to his health.
We are keeping an eye on the situation and hope the payment will be made, or else we will be back with a protest.
April 27 the ZSP Wroclaw organized an informational picket outside the OTTO office on Komandorska St. in connection with the situation of Maciejm who was not paid sick leave (over 1000 euro per month since March). He was seriously injured and requires medical care and has no money.
Members of ZSP gave out leaflets to potential workers informing them about the practices of OTTO and about their rights in Poland and in Holland. One person said that they should be taken care of with tanks and others started talking about similar practices in other temporary work agencies.
OTTO Workforce Screws Injured Worker
The campaign to improve the treatment of people working for OTTO temporary agency continues. M. was working loading in Belgium where he got an industrial related injury (a hernia). While on leave in Poland, he was told by doctors that he needed to take sick leave but he was essentially dismissed (in temporary agencies this means the company says „we have no more work for you”). He is left with medical bills, has no insurance coverage in Poland and the company is giving him the run-around, refusing to deal with his case.
Protests against capitalism and its logic!
In defense of labour and tenants, against anti-social policies, war and the logic of the security street!
On the occasion of the Visegrad Summit and the visit of Obama to Poland, ZSP calls grassroots organizations and all those who are fed up to get out in the streets and protest!
Main protest: Saturday, May 29 at 12:00 Plac Trzech Krzyży
Against Capitalism and the State, Long Live International Solidarity
May 16-23 in Warsaw, we are organizing events against the borders, in favour of international solidarity. We aim to spread the idea that the existence of borders and the logic of nationalism keeps us divided. As workers much is determined by where we live, or where we come from. The system is forcing us to compete, instead of unite in our struggle.
The events planned include film screenings, discussions, meetings, lectures, streets meetings and a demonstration at the headquarters of Frontex, the EU border agency.
