Union agrees to talk

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 8

Union agrees to talk

NZPA-Reuter ’ Warsaw The Solidarity free trade union is to hold talks today with the Polish Government after Communist Party, military, and Government warnings about a worsening crisis in the country. After a series of conflicting reports about whether the meeting was on, Solidarity confirmed that its presidium had accepted an invitation to see the Government. More demonstrations and strikes are planned this week over food shortages despite a Government warning at the week-end that the protests could turn into a national conflict.

The recently elected 15member Politburo said in a tough statement that food shortages and the temporary reductions in meat rations were being exploited to stir up tensions. The authorities, aware of the critical food shortages, promised to crack down on speculation and black marketeering. They decided to use troops to support civil and police inspectors in the markets. The Government decision to use troops as a back-up for civil and police inspectors in the markets pointed to the growing role of the

military in coping with Poland’s year-old crisis. There are now four serving generals in the Government which is led by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. The promised crackdown on speculation and black marketeering and an acknowledgement by the Politburo that there have been insufficient market deliveries demonstrated that the authorities were aware of the critical food situation. But the Politburo argued firmly that this was no excuse for street demonstrations and strikes and stated that there was no danger of hunger in Poland.