Grzegorz Napieralski, head of the Democratic left Alliance

Labour Day celebrations have been cancelled in Poland today due to the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

However, several marches and demonstrations have been held in Polish cities and towns organised by leftist movements and trade unions.

Meeting in Warsaw, representatives of the All Poland Trade Union called for improvement of living and working conditions in Poland.

In the central city of Lodz several dozen young people met for a 'March of Discontent', protesting against the rising unemployment, soaring food prices and forms of employment offered by entrepreneurs.

In Katowice, the capital of Silesia, over one hundred people took part in a demonstration organised by local leftist movement, which concentrated on the criticism of the ruling circles.

In the coastal city of Szczecin during the celebration of Labour Day, the head of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Grzegorz Napieralski said that Prime Minister Tusk was “an unreliable head of government whose words could not be relied on.”

Speaking to a group of over 200 people gathered at the inactive Szczecin Shipyard, Napieralski said that the Prime Minister had promised the shipyards in Szczecin and Gdynia would continue to function, but this was just “a pre-election game”.

Napieralski added  that the closed gates and derelict cranes are a symbol of unfulfilled promises made by Donald Tusk.

The leader of SLD also accused the Prime Minister of failing to help the needy, which was yet another of the promises made by Donald Tusk, as well as giving consent  for massive outflow of young, educated Poles, who unable to find jobs in Poland have to look for work abroad. (ab/jb)

Source: PAP