Minister of Education Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaking in Poland's lower house of parliament (Sejm). Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
The government argues that the so-called Trilateral Commission, which brings together three of Poland's largest trade union associations, can be resurrected, but accuses unionists of breaking off talks.
“You cannot get offended and break off dialogue,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
“You can argue, discuss, but first of all you have to sit down at the table,” he added.
The minister claimed that one of the alliance's key demands, namely a faster rate of increase for the minimum wage, is already well in hand.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that by 2014, the minimum wage will have reached 1680 zloty per month (45 percent of the national average). Unionists had earlier called for the rate to reach 50 percent.
The original reason for the protests was prospective reforms to the labour code that allow for so-called 'junk contracts' - temporary contracts suited to casual labour, in which employment rights are limited.
The green light for the protests was given in June, following an internal vote held by the three members of the Trilateral Commission, the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ), the Solidarity Trade Union and the Forum of Trade Unions.
However, besides calls for the government to renege on its labour code policy, the unions are also protesting against the already valid increase of the national retirement age to 67 for both sexes.
Yesterday, protesters outside the ministry of education criticised the government's calls for teachers to work an extra two hours per week, claiming that the average teacher already works over the allotted 40 hours a week, in spite of the government's claims to the contrary.
Besides protests outside government ministries, about 500 protesters are spending each night in a tent city outside parliament.
The biggest demonstrations are schedule for Saturday, the last day of protests, with some 60,000 expected to participate in a march. (nh)
Source: IAR, PAP