Polish Workers Stage 2nd Strike as Unrest Escalates

Workers today struck a heavy machinery plant in southeastern Poland in an escalation of the nation’s worst labor unrest in six years, opposition leaders said.

The government denied that a strike had begun at the Stalowa Wola plant and threatened to fire anyone who did strike.

Thousands of steelworkers at the giant Lenin mills outside Krakow continued their strike for a fourth day demanding higher pay and union rights.

Opposition spokesman Jacek Kuron in Warsaw said 21 Solidarity activists were detained across the country today, an indication that communist authorities’ tolerance for worker defiance was waning.

“The situation in Poland is not dramatic,” government spokesman Jerzy Urban said at a hastily called news conference. He said “an attempt to organize a strike” failed at Stalowa Wola.

Firings Threatened

Urban said plant management will fire any workers who take part in a strike.

Contacted by telex, the plant was repeating a recorded message that work is “going on normally” and that a rally by workers has ended.

Labor Minister Ireneneusz Sekula said at the news conference with Urban that the government will announce in a few days tax law changes and other measures to allow enterprises to meet growing worker pressure for higher pay. Consumer prices have gone up 42% so far this year.

Urban also said there have been an unspecified number of “preventive detentions.” He did not elaborate.

The strike at the 18,000-worker machinery plant in Stalowa Wola began with the first shift this morning, according to opposition activists and Father Edward Frankowski, a priest in the town 150 miles southeast of Warsaw.

The priest said workers rallied outside plant headquarters.

$50 Pay Increases Demanded

The police presence was heavy in Stalowa Wola and at least four local Solidarity activists were detained, according to Frankowski and Solidarity spokesman Zbigniew Romaszewski, who was in Warsaw.

Strikers were demanding $50 monthly pay raises and the reinstatement of dismissed Solidarity activists.

Thousands of workers continued their occupation of the Lenin steel mill, outside the southern city of Krakow.

The strikers began their action Tuesday, demanding higher wages, recognition of union rights and more money for retirees, teachers, and industrial and health care workers nationwide.

Strike committee member Maciej Mach said today that about 13,000 strikers were inside the steelworks, around which the Krakow suburb of Nowa Huta was built in the 1950s. He said his committee has not negotiated with management since talks broke off early Thursday.

The steelworkers were warned Thursday that their strike is illegal. Their leaders said management has threatened to use force to end it.