A referendum held by three railway companies, Wednesday, has approved a motion to go on strike after the Easter holidays this coming weekend.

PKP Intercity, PKP Cargo, and the Infrastructure Maintenance Company (PNI) undertook a referendum among its workers to ask whether they are for strike action if the companies’ planned privatisation would not guarantee further employment.

The official results of the referendum are expected to be announced after Easter, with trade unions expecting that a strike will be voted for.

“It looks as if the referendum was valid, as over 50 percent of workers casted their ballot,” head of the Confederation of Railway Trade Unions, Leszek Mietek told the PAP news agency.

“It also seems that there has a been a positive response and the workers will vote to strike,” Mietek continued.

The referendum ballot took place in all three companies between 22 March and 20 April. The privatisation of PKP Cargo and PNI has been planned for next year, while PKP Intercity, Poland’s major long-distance operator, is expected to be sold not earlier than 2012. (jb)