Proposals to shut 14 mines in Poland have come up against strong resistance with miners taking to blocking railways and getting the threat of solidarity action from other workers as the following links show.

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A correspondent from Poland adds that

“As usual with miners or nurses, there were attempts at pitting other workers against them as a "privileged" group that lives like kings for taxpayers' money. But it didn't work – many people expressed their solidarity with them.”

The strike ended at the weekend with what “appears like a victory” for the miners. Our correspondent adds

“The protests have just ended with trade unionists signing an agreement with Prime Minister Kopacz yesterday. Apparently, no mine will be closed and no one will lose their job. Of course we yet have to see what will come out of that. Kopacz seemingly hadn't much choice – there are parliamentary elections in autumn this year, PO (Civic Platform – the right wing governing party) lost a lot of support in Silesia and Kaczyński (leader of the even more right wing Law and Justice Party) of course went there to feed on that (the "Solidarność" trade union is close to his party). And obviously, the main point of this deal seems to be the desire to base "Polish energy security on Polish coal".