A demonstration planed during the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism by the Solidarity trade union has been cancelled.
According to the Solidarity officials, a mass and a celebration in front of the shipyard workers monument outside the gates of the yard is planned on the 4 June, instead.
Anger has grown among shipyard workers after the European Commission intervened into the restructuring of the yard, insisting that it cut productivity capacity further, which would result in mass redundancies.
The decision came after PM Donald Tusk decided to move the celebration from the shipyard in Gdansk - often known as the ‘cradle of Solidarity’ - to Krakow in southern Poland. He was afraid, he said, that the anniversary may turn into a brutal battle between police and trade unionists.
The government spokesman, Pawel Gras, declared yesterday, that there would be no plans to shift celebrations back to Gdansk even if the trade unionists promised not to cause a disturbance at an event that will get much international coverage. (wg/pg)