Polish standard of living sinks

Press, 16 October 1981, Page 6

Polish standard of living sinks

NZPA-Reuter Warsaw The standard of living of the average Pole has dropped ’ drastically since Poland plunged into economic political crisis more than a year ago, according to latest Government calculations. The Government broadcast and published a gloomy review of the economy yesterday as it prepared for talks with the Solidarity free trade union in an attempt to calm mounting protests and strikes over shortages. The head of the Government’s special anti-crisis staff, a Deputy Prime Minister, Janusz Obodowski, spoke of a drastic decline in living standards and said one-third of the money on the market had no backing in goods. He was speaking as the official news agency, Pap, released more stark statistics on Poland’s economic collapse which showed that

the value ol sold industrial output was 18 per cent down in September compared with the same month last year. Coal output- continued to plummet with production in September at 13.9 million tonnes, 4.4 per cent below September last -year when mines were hit by strikes. The Central Statistics Office also reported that the volume, of livestock contracted for purchase for the last three months of the year was expected to be 49.3 per cent below last year’s level.

The statistics displayed the harsh reality behind the every-day struggle for existence in Poland which has provoked a new wave of strikes and protests. The strikes centred yesterday on the city of Zyrardow, south of Warsaw, where some 12,000 women textile workers spent the second day occupying their mills to back demands for more food.