Monday, July 30, 2012

Solidarnosc (Solidarity) Stands with Obama as Romney Vacations in Poland


 
 
POLISH SOLIDARITY WITH OBAMA
 
Poland's storied Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union, which led the fight leading to the downfall of Communism Poland has rejected Mitt Romney's anti-labor policies during the GOP candidate's visit to Poland.

Upon Romney's visit to the Gdansk shipyards, the site of historic Polish worker strikes during the Soviet era, Solidarnosc issued a press release saying it is "in no way involved" in the Romney visit.

The union expressed dismay at Romney's anti-worker stances, saying it stood with American workers and the American labor movement in support of Obama.

"Regretfully, we have learned from our friends in the American trade union central AFL-CIO representing over 12 million workers about Mitt Romney's support for the attacks against trade unions and labor rights," Andrzej Adamczyk, the head of the union's international department, wrote. "In this respect, I wish to express... our solidarity with American workers and trade unions. [Solidarity] will always support the AFL-CIO in their struggle for the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively."

Contrary to Romney's views on unions, Catholic social teaching says that the right of workers to form unions is a non-negotiable human right.

8 comments:

Bolek said...

Unfortunately,Lech Walesa pretty much endorsed Romney during the GOP's candidate's stay in Poland. Then again, these days Walesa wouldn't get elected for any position in the Solidarity Trade Union or for any political post in Poland because he has taken it upon himself to say quite a few bizarre things over the past decade and then some. So it's not altogether surprising that his visit with Romney produced comments that rate right up there with his worst.

Bolek said...

I should note, too, that if the President wants to bolster himself among recent Polish citizens in the US, his popularity will be greatly enhanced if he manages to ease visa restrictions for Poles asap. Otherwise, he will be attacked in Polish-American newspapers and media for not delivering on his promises to do just that. And he will lose votes because of not delivering. That's just a fact.

Arlene said...

I am a Polish American Republican Catholic...and I will vote for Romney..and by the way, you should thank Lech Walesa and Blessed Pope John Paul II for saving your country...no unions for me...they have ruined America....

Kurt said...

Arlene,

I thank Blessed John Paul the Great for the following teaching of his:

"Unions are an indispensible part of a just society."

Anonymous said...

I agree with Arlene!

Anonymous said...

And, Kurt, I am sure Pope JP was not talking about unions in the US when he made that remark. Greed, greed, greed.

Kurt said...

Actually, he was. He said it in Philadelphia to an audience that he had invited American labor leaders to be at. You need to study up on Catholic Social Teaching.

Bolek said...

Arlene,

Please take the time to read Blessed John Paul II's papal encyclical Laborem Exercens which is available online from the Vatican website. And after reading it, please tell me if he would have been critical of the greed of a guy who has billions of dollars in tax free savings in offshore bank accounts. And can you please explain to me what the Pope meant by "the priority of labor" in determining the morality of social relations?

Otherwise, the Polish people had a lot to do with bringing about the success of the Solidarity Union Movement, as did the AFL-CIO in the US. But yes, I am thankful for all that the Pope and Lech Walesa did, too.

Finally, Arelene, how do you feel about Romney's aide using vulgar and obscene language at the sacred site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw? Do you think that Romney owes an apology to the Polish people, especially Polish War Veterans? I mean, isn't he responsible for such high ranking people in his campaign?