Poland to make cuts amid gloomy economic forecasts

mazzastaffordsh:

eems like Mr Brown (who is he you might ask) our unelected Prime Minister and Mr Obama have got a plan to save the world. Pity he didn't know about the plan months ago then the UK in particular could be in a better financial state instead of the mess we have got now.How can it be that a democratic country like the UK has an unelected Prime Minister?

PrinceThreads: 26 Posts: 826 Joined: Nov 4, 08	Edited by: Prince Jan 30, 09, 21:37 / #
http://www.topnews.in/poland-make-cuts-amid-gloomy-economic-forecasts- 2117893 Warsaw - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was to meet with his cabinet ministers Friday on slashing government spending, amid forecasts of slowing economic growth But Tusk on Tuesday said the country's GDP could grow by as little as 1.7 per cent in 2009, while inflation could be up 1.9 per cent, PAP reported. Expenses like investments, vehicle purchases and building renovations would all be looked over to make cuts and compensate for what could be lower revenues in 2009, Tusk said

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Feb 1, 09, 11:48 / #
Job losses here in the UK are growing and there are already various sympathetic strikers. It is likely to get worse as many more companies are choosing to employ workers from Spain, Portugal, Italy etc. Many Polish workers may be thinking of leaving the UK as our cost of living is high whilst European workers are paid less and foreign owned companies in the UK are discriminating against the British worker. British workers do have for some reason a reputation of being lazy but for the people that I know in particular the engineering industries are very hard workers. Is Poland's economy going to follow the same pattern?

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Feb 21, 09, 20:31 / #
Latest news from Staffordshire in the UK. Local engineering company in Stoke on Trent have cut everyones wages by 20% and overtime will not be paid, just time off in lieu of wages. Be warned out there it could be coming your way!

szkotja2007Threads: 38 Posts: 2,544 Joined: Dec 29, 06	Feb 21, 09, 20:35 / #
Just been speaking to a mate that has had his work increased, more hours - same pay. Went to the boss to complain and was told....go complain to the eight guys I just paid off ! Hard times ahead......

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Feb 21, 09, 21:02 / #
Seems like the gloom is on it's way. There are thousands over here losing their homes as well as their jobs. I think that there has been too much money given to footballers, celebrities and high flying money managers and they have taken so much that there is not much left for the ordinary man in the street. Surely a few bad debts in the housing market of the USA could not have caused such a downturn in the global economy. I think governments think we are stupid. What do we vote for in the next election in the UK more of the same or a conservative party that have no ideas what to do? Maybe if everyone refused to vote they may think "dooh what have we done"? Then maybe not do politicians actually think?

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Edited by: Seanus Feb 21, 09, 21:38 / #
Gloomy forecasts, yes, but Poland's best bet is its belief. Please watch the following, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rACmwAGyne0. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XqK59ZR93g&feature=related, this is interesting too. Katołice, LOL. The views of foreigners on Poles.

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Feb 22, 09, 18:37 / #
Hi Seanus have checked out the links and have to agree Poland is beautiful and a great country full of very nice people. Yes I would like to live there but have to say that home is where the heart is and that is the UK but my second choice would be Poland the land of my father. I think somehow the UK has got lost and we certainly need some very forward thinking politicians who are not just working to line their own pockets, but to bring the very best ideas and to work with the people and for the people. The greatest asset any country has is its people and governments should be judged on how they treat its people. At the moment that is not very well at all. We can no longer just sit back and let the wealthy do just as they please. That wealth needs to be put back into circulation and get the UK moving again. Maybe we need some of that confidence that the Poles have who knows? I for one hope that sometime soon things settle down and in the mean time we just work hard, get paid less money, try to keep a hold on our homes and maybe things will work out ok.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Feb 22, 09, 18:47 / #
You wonder how work contracts are affected. Under Employment Law, it is technically illegal to lower salaries in such a fashion. Bankers have to realise that they didn't put the brakes on and actually encouraged loans. The magazines did their part to encourage overspending. Unless I have my blinkers on, Poland is a huge credit nation. Their sums just don't add up so I'm quite sure of it. There have been hysterical reactions to the financial crisis here but it has real applicability. Therefore, hard times lie ahead.

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Feb 22, 09, 20:29 / #
Apparently work contracts don't really count for anything, companies just go to court with their plans and state that any change is good for the company (including pay cuts) and the plan will be approved. Such is life, stuff the workers, give plenty of benefits to the shirkers and the bankers say great.......more money for me. Contracts what is the point!!!!

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Mar 1, 09, 15:14 / #
The truth about greedy bankers is now coming out. Greedy men at the top have secured themselves fantastic amounts of money for their own pensions and the workforce will get next to nothing. I just wonder why the great workforce who toil in factories etc are really presumed to be worthless even though it is they that produce the goods for companies and make the profits very lucrative. Do executives think they are clever taking all these bonuses? Eventually the money will run out - these executives should get down onto the factory floor and learn about manufacturing and they may have a greater respect for the hard working labour force because at the moment ordinary men and women are treated like scum. What will be left for the younger generation? Hm, let me think, shops, shops and more shops because that is what England is becoming, but many will only be able to look through the windows at what they can't have. Seems like the return of the post war years to me, my grandmother told me a lot about those times.

moonlightThreads: 7 Posts: 115 Joined: Nov 10, 08	Mar 1, 09, 15:47 / #
Here in Ireland the government announced it was going to introduce pay cuts for public sector employees, of course unions sought legal advice but it seems it can be done. But government have thought of a different way to reduce wages...a pension levy!!!! most people have no problem doing their part why should ordinary people have to pay for the mistakes of a Government who had no vision, greedy bankers(could replace with better word) and corrupt business men! while the outlook is not good, people need to stay positive and support each other. I have heard too many stories of people ending their lives over this. really my point is dont let this doom and gloom consume you, times will change eventually.

Ireland32Threads: 2 Posts: 234 Joined: Feb 23, 09	Mar 1, 09, 16:01 / #
Thought Id add a comment on this post......Im a Senior Manager at a company in Ireland. All the SMT have been asked to take a 20% pay cut at end of this week for next 5 months.......no one is ammune to the big 'R'.......only this time there aint no coffin ships heading for the shores of America !!

RandalThreads: 1 Posts: 758 Joined: Feb 14, 09	Edited by: Moderator Mar 4, 09, 19:55 / #
A big part of the problem are labor union contracts which for years have been crafted and bullied through with blind disregard for economic realities. Can unions really think that their absurdly generous contacts will be respected the same during these tough economic times as when things were good? Here in the States they are demanding so called “no layoff” clauses. During these times? Gimme a break. They need to wake up to the reality of the current situation. Every union contact should include language tying it to the fluctuating economy.

ragtime27Threads: 1 Posts: 245 Joined: Feb 20, 09	Edited by: ragtime27 Mar 13, 09, 00:29 / #
Polanglik: I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong You're right,however poeple vote for different reasons vote for their MP's(local issues for example). you can do that in by elections,but voters can use general election for that as well. Parties create shadow government(largest opposition),so voters can cast their vote for that. if you can't stand a politician and he's going to be in the government it may put you off voting for that party. I personally happy with Gordon Brown,remember main reason Labour stayed in power is the economy performance(GB was behind that).

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Edited by: mazzastaffordsh Mar 1, 09, 18:46 / #
The ordinary working mans redundancy package is certainly no where as big as what some Senior Managers get. You have not answered my question though, why do the people on the factory floor get treated as though they are scum? Please don't tell me that they don't because I have personal experiences. When you have your large executive houses and are made redundant yes it is difficult but you can at least downsize. The family in a smaller less well off situation can only downsize to maybe a caravan, council or housing association property, and have probably had to go into bankruptcy.Also my husband has had a 20% pay cut and is expected to work overtime with no overtime premium. There is a huge problem in the business sector and that is Management seem to think that they are superior beings and the people getting their hands dirty are worth less. Maybe Ireland32 you may not be one of these superior beings as I do not know you and can only speak as I have found through experience.

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Mar 3, 09, 21:52 / #
Seems like Mr Brown (who is he you might ask) our unelected Prime Minister and Mr Obama have got a plan to save the world. Pity he didn't know about the plan months ago then the UK in particular could be in a better financial state instead of the mess we have got now.How can it be that a democratic country like the UK has an unelected Prime Minister?

Ireland32Threads: 2 Posts: 234 Joined: Feb 23, 09	Mar 4, 09, 19:42 / #
mazzastaffordsh: Maybe Ireland32 you may not be one of these superior beings as I do not know you and can only speak as I have found through experience. I may be a Senior Manager but believe me 20% is alot. I am also losing 3 of my staff so yes that means more work for me and as a Senior Manager I do not get overtime. I already work 55 hours a week. Im not looking for sympathy but I do have sympathy for those people on the factory floor. They have families and homes.....I know that. I am divorced. I have children who I love and adore. I rent a 2 bedroom apartment. I gave up my family home to my kids. Times are hard. No one is immune but you can rest asssure that the governments who helped the banks will not come to help me or you when the balliffs come knocking on our doors.

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Edited by: mazzastaffordsh Mar 4, 09, 22:54 / #
Hello Ireland32 thanks for your reply.You obviously are having it tough and care for your family very much. There is though a great divide between the "factory floor". For example where my husband works they have stopped any overtime payment, they do not have a company pension scheme at all so we have to pay privately - I think you would agree that this is very expensive and we could never put away the amount that would keep us in a high standard of living on retirement. Also no work no pay and that means if you are too ill to work (meaning hospitalized and not just shirking). The management organized a 3 shift system and it is running to the minimum of breaks ie the men have to leave their machines when the buzzer goes, go to wash hands and toilet, eat their meal and be back on the machines, for this they have 20 minutes. There has been a few people having heart attacks and other health issues because of the 3 shift system. Also people have to keep rearranging child care where the wives work. Maybe senior management could come together with the factory floor, hear each other out and maybe a better quality or work arrangements could be met. I firmly believe that the children of today are missing out on quality family life and maybe more attention to our children would do so much more good and less hooliganism and disrespect might be the result. To Randal I would say that Unions are not all that bad in today's climate. There are other advantages of belonging to a union.Fistly members are insured on their way to work and home again - this must be good. Secondly where my husband works there has been cases of bullying by supervisors (proved cases not made up). Thirdly when there are reduncies the union is a great help to get people into training - again this has been proved to be good as we know someone who has had training in plastering and has done really well, he is now in employment. The union where my husband works haveally good job and they have not called out strikes or huge pay demands they have acted reasonably within structures that management require. Good result

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Mar 11, 09, 19:58 / #
Have just heard of a winner in the redundancy situation. Engineer my husband knows was made redundant after a lot of years in the industry. He got around 13k redundancy and was immediately snapped up by another engineering company (his reputation for good work had gone before him) and the old company have got to pay him his wages for 12 weeks as well. To this man I say Best of Luck you deserve it.

peterwegThreads: 35 Posts: 1,987 Joined: Feb 16, 07	Edited by: peterweg Mar 12, 09, 22:55 / #
mazzastaffordsh: eems like Mr Brown (who is he you might ask) our unelected Prime Minister and Mr Obama have got a plan to save the world. Pity he didn't know about the plan months ago then the UK in particular could be in a better financial state instead of the mess we have got now.How can it be that a democratic country like the UK has an unelected Prime Minister? You obviously don't know anything about the UK's democratic system.We don't elect Prime Ministers, never have, never will. We elect MP's who select their leader. Simple.

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Mar 13, 09, 00:07 / #
peterweg: We elect MP's who select their leader. Simple true ... in UK one votes for a particular party who has a leader, and that person will become Prime Minister if that party wins the election. I think the point mazzstaffordsh is trying to make is that when the UK people voted Labour in the last election , they were voting for Tony Blair & not Gordon Brown. If I remember correctly, and I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong, Tony Blair said he would see out the full term as Prime Minister if Labour were to win that election. :o)) The UK people were voting for Tony Blair to be their Prime Minister ..... had Gordon Brown been leader of the party would the same people have voted Labour ?

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Edited by: SeanBM Mar 13, 09, 00:39 / #
What is the unemployment rate in the UK, the U.S.A and Ireland?. silobreaker.com/DocumentReader.aspx?Item=5_2262128766576754715 Poland's January 2009 unemployment rate rises to 10.5%

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER	Mar 13, 09, 00:43 / #
SeanBM: the U.S.A 8.1 %

RandalThreads: 1 Posts: 758 Joined: Feb 14, 09	Mar 13, 09, 00:44 / #
SeanBM: What is the unemployment rate in the UK, the U.S.A Right now we’re at 8.1% but they’re projecting 10% by the end of the year.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Mar 13, 09, 00:53 / #
Does that 8.1% figure include illegal immigrants. I know it is impossible to say accurately but because of the huge amount of illegals in the U.S, it is a factor.

ragtime27Threads: 1 Posts: 245 Joined: Feb 20, 09	Mar 13, 09, 00:55 / #
for UK 6.3% nearly 2 million

niejestemcapitaThreads: 3 Posts: 666 Joined: Jan 3, 09	Edited by: niejestemcapita Mar 13, 09, 00:56 / #
SeanBM: What is the unemployment rate in the UK, pgtx: 8.1 % Randal: 10% arent these figures just kind of arbritary and massaged down by various gov't schemes of either finding ways of pushing ppl off lists or onto other lists?

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Edited by: SeanBM Mar 13, 09, 01:02 / #
[url=http://www.javno.com/en-economy/irelands-unemployment-seen-rising -in-2009_138842]Ireland's unemployment rate is expected to rise to 6.6 percent next year from 5.5 percent in 2008 [/url] I know unemployed people can claim benifits from the government in the U.K. and Ireland but what about the U.S. I am also not clear on the benefit system in Poland, does anybody know. I think it has changed recently?. The price of living here in Poland is very high compared with Ireland, the U.S?. and the U.K. Many things are the same price as Ireland/U.K but the wages here (in Poland) are significantly lower. Accommodation (depending), Kitchen utilities (cookers, refrigerators etc...) are the same price, which is madness. Vegetables are cheaper. It would be interesting to do a price check. We could compare average prices of things in our respective countries. niejestemcapita: arent these figures just kind of arbritary and massaged down by various gov't schemes of either finding ways of pushing ppl off lists or onto other lists? I know what you mean but we have to work with something but you raise a good point.

ragtime27Threads: 1 Posts: 245 Joined: Feb 20, 09	Mar 13, 09, 01:02 / #
niejestemcapita: arent these figures just kind of arbritary and massaged down by various gov't schemes Hmmm.... I don't think Government need to temper with the data. Non-governmental institute can give you the numbers

RandalThreads: 1 Posts: 758 Joined: Feb 14, 09	Edited by: Randal Mar 13, 09, 01:43 / #
niejestemcapita: arent these figures just kind of arbritary and massaged down by various gov't schemes of either finding ways of pushing ppl off lists or onto other lists? Yes, we use a very complicated and convoluted calculation to determine the number of unemployed people. It involves comparing the average number of the past month with the previous month and somehow they arrive at an estimate. But people who have exhausted their unemployment benefits no longer get counted. It compares the working rolls so the lazy, terminally unemployed don’t get counted. I don’t know that it includes illegals but it certainly could. I don’t fully understand it and I’m not sure many people do. Seems to me it is needlessly and perhaps intentionally confusing. But that's the number we use.