Tomorrow will be a month since the first warning strike. Currently, the protests are escalating and there is no solution to the problem. Maybe the pressure is too weak?
- The farmers’ strike is difficult because consumers do not feel its effects immediately
- At any moment, a month will have passed since the warning strike, and the good will of decision-makers is not visible on the horizon
The farmers’ strike is difficult because it does not result in pressure on the authorities to do “something”.
There has been no such uprising and unity in a common cause in Polish society since the strikes organized by Andrzej Lepper. What’s more, many people say that the scale of the current strikes is even greater and that in modern Poland, after the political changes in 1989, there were no such manifestations in the country. Especially since not only farmers are on strike, but also miners, transport workers and construction workers. Other industries also show up at the protests. However, it remains unchanged that the government and the EU authorities are avoiding the issue. Although something may have changed recently, in fact there are still no concessions from the EU and the government. There are only vague promises which at the moment – colloquially speaking – do not solve the problem. Ania. in terms of modifying the assumptions of the Green Deal or trade with Ukraine.
The farmers’ strike is the most difficult to organize because it is not directly felt by society. Granted, there are lockdowns, so there may be transport delays, late arrivals to work, etc. But that’s all. Farmers are de facto unable to influence the actions of decision-makers through strikes through direct pressure resulting from social dissatisfaction. Unless all key communication hubs in the country were blocked and supplies were paralyzed throughout the country – then the pressure would certainly be greater.
Let’s pay attention to what would happen if employees of municipal utilities went on strike. If only they stopped collecting waste for two or three weeks, we would have a huge problem. Whole streets would be covered with garbage. There would be no need for any blockades, because we would also block ourselves with waste. After some time, there would be a huge stench on the streets and diseases would probably start to develop. Everyone would feel such a protest firsthand.
It is unlikely that an entire group of food retail chains would go on strike at the same time. But let’s see, hypothetically. If retail chains were closed for just a few days, we would have a huge problem with supplying everyday items and, above all, food products. There would be major social unrest. People would report their problems to the government on their own, saying “do something about it”.
If all transport starts a strike, there will be a shortage of supplies. If the police stopped working completely for a week, we would probably have a recipe for a sudden increase in crime.
Is there no good will of the European Union and national authorities?
And we, as farmers, can’t do much. Let’s imagine a breeding farm that decides to refrain from working. Who will we harm? Only yourself. We won’t milk the cows? We won’t give the animals feed? This form of strike is not possible on farms. What’s left? Only locks. However, they cease to be effective because they do not impress the people “pulling the strings”. Minister Czesław Siekierski himself wrote in a letter to farmers: “In the face of ongoing and planned protests and blockades, we appeal to all protesting farmers to minimize their burden on society. So yes: go on strike, but we can’t do anything. Just don’t make life difficult for others.
A farmers’ strike may be less noticeable to society, because theoretically nothing bad is happening. There are delays at the blockade points, and the very severe situation at the border is of no importance to the average person. It is true that this is a big dispute, a matter of great importance, history is being created and the future is being decided – but the average citizen does not feel its effects here and now. Because groceries do not disappear from stores, the strike does not change everyday life, it is good, right? Only apparently. The government focuses on Ukraine’s apology almost every day, while farmers are ignored.
Only in the case of more severe forms of strike does anyone begin to feel a minimum of responsibility. However, instead of “solving” the problem, it is easier to scare farmers and “stifle” the protests.
Only in recent days have consumers started to notice that something is wrong. What kind of bread do we eat? Why do we pay the same or more when Poland has so many cheaper goods from the East? Where does Polish money go?
All the more admirable is the uprising that is currently taking place before our eyes. But it also shows the scale of desperation. Voices can be heard among farmers: let them send the police and army against us, we will not give in (especially after yesterday’s information from the Prime Minister about recognizing the border as critical infrastructure). These strikes will not be stopped because farmers have nothing to lose. Only an ignorant person can say that nothing is happening. There’s a lot going on, because many farms may go bankrupt this year. Farms that previously had good financial liquidity are at risk. After the harvest, there will be problems with loan repayments. There’s nothing to lose here. History is being made before our eyes.
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