THE :ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS IN "REBORN POLAND." The Central Committee of the Polish Trade Unions claimed a membership of 1,000,000 in October, 1945, and 2,000,000 one year later. This growth was due to the unification of the previously separate and rival unions, and to the alleged independence of the unions from the government or political parties. " This enabled anyone, whatever his political or religious views, to freely join our unions," Kazimierz Rusinek, 1 secretary of the Trade Union Federation, told me. Oppositionists laugh bitterly at these boasts. Rusinek gave the show away when he stated that "Of course the unions do not live in ' splendid isolation., On the contrary they work . closely with the PPR and PPS." Under the slogan of unity, the trade· unions adopted a resolution in April, 1945, calling for "extensive action against the criminal activities of the reactionary parties." By reactionary they mean not only the parties which are actually reactionary or conservative, but the liberal groups, the PSL, the independent Socialists, and Popiel's Christian Labour Party, now dissolved and replaced by a spurious Catholic Party. I collected evidence, the sources of which cannot be revealed, that many of the PPS trade unionists find it galling to be forced to act as stoolpigeons and policemen against their former comrades. I doubt that even Rusinek is happy in this inquisitorial role. Rusinek claimed tremendous success for the unions in improvement of the lot of the Polish workers, getting increased wages, larger supplies, a better ration system, paid holidays in rest homes, welfare funds, and provisions for labour education in the collective agreements signed. The unions have also been instrumental in improving production, he said, in building morale and better discipline. All of these achievements have been made " in close collaboration with the government of national unity, the PPR and PPS," he added-" and with the Soviet trade unions and their Government." He insisted that there 1 Rusinek has since become Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. The new secretary of the Trade Union Federation _isAdam Kurylowicz. 31 Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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