Poland’s Solidarity movement plans Corpus Christi strike

Warsaw, Poland, Jun 7, 2007 / 09:47 am

Poland's Solidarity movement is expected to lead a nationwide strike on the feast of Corpus Christi today, to protest policies that require employees to work on religious and national holidays.

Solidarity is demanding that all retail stores be closed on Sundays and on the country’s 12 most important national and religious holidays, including New Year’s Day, Easter, Corpus Christi, All Saints’ Day, Independence Day, and Christmas.

A similar proposal was introduced in the Polish parliament this year, but has yet to be voted on, reported CWNews.

At a press conference earlier this week, the head of Solidarity’s retail division, Alfred Bujara, said Corpus Christi is the next holy day on which retail employees are expected to report for work.

Solidarity leaders do not know how many workers will join in the June 7 work stoppage. Some workers, Bujara said, are afraid to miss work because their employers have indicated that they might hire temporary workers in their place.