Mining industry reports a loss; miners announce a strike
After three quarters of 2000, the mining industry reported a net loss of PLN 1.2bn (USD 0.26bn). Only eight out of over 40 mines were profitable and the overall debt of the sector reached PLN 21bn (USD 4.5bn). Under the government-sponsored mining reform scheme, the industry is to become profitable by 2002 and stop generating losses by next year. Meanwhile, the Solidarity Union's Mining and Energy Secretariat said on Monday, it would launch a warning strike on Nov 6 and then possibly a general strike. Solidarity demands the government to keep the miner wages at their present level and to present a feasible retirement plan for those miners who are working in particularly heavy conditions.
Źródło:IntelliNews Daily
