From early morning, a teachers' strike will be underway in most schools and kindergartens across the country. Yesterday evening, during last-chance talks, only the "Solidarity" trade union of education signed an agreement with the government. Representatives of ZNP and FZZ did not agree to the proposals presented by Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło. At 9:00 AM, the leader of Wiosna (Spring), Robert Biedroń, is scheduled to present a billboard with the PiS party's unfulfilled promises to teachers at a press conference.

Taxi drivers are also organizing their protest in Warsaw today, in opposition to the recently adopted government regulations, known as "lex Uber."

At 10:45 AM, Warsaw councilors from the Law and Justice party are organizing their press conference. At noon, the spokesperson for the National Council of the Judiciary will meet with media representatives. Maciej Mitera is expected to comment on the ongoing proceedings before the CJEU concerning Polish rule of law.

At 12:15 PM, the chairman of Civic Platform (PO), Grzegorz Schetyna, has announced his press conference in Krakow. And at 12:00 PM in Warsaw, representatives of SLD, Razem, Zieloni (Greens), and the Feminist Initiative are organizing their briefing on the "Secular State" project. 

President Andrzej Duda will be on a visit to the Lubuskie Voivodeship. At 4:00 PM, he will meet with residents of Słubice, and at 6:30 PM, with residents of Sulęcin.

- We conduct dialogue so it can always succeed. I [saw a glimmer of hope] the entire time. I thought the government would bring some concrete new proposals. It's a shame that yesterday, only what was written down on Friday appeared, not new proposals. Until Wednesday, it seemed there was more hope. This is because both the government and the union sides presented proposals. One side conceded, the other added a bit, but unfortunately, they didn't get close enough to prevent the announcement of the strike and the lack of agreement within the framework of the dialogue council – stated Dorota Gardias in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- It [the agreement] could have been signed if there had been the will. Politics always creeps into these negotiations, and it is known that the government side has and knows what money it has at its disposal. I must say that at the moment of the PiS Saturday convention, I saw that the trade union side had hardened even more, because it was extremely unpleasant after President Kaczyński's statements. During these meetings and negotiations, [the Cow+ and Piglet+ programs did not play a good role] - stated Dorota Gardias in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- This is, I think, a temporary, transitional defeat. I am convinced that we will return to talks soon. As the government side, we are absolutely ready to continue these discussions - said Jacek Sasin in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News's "Graffiti" program.

- I believe that such incitements, like the PiS convention, I will return to it, on Saturday. This further strengthens teachers in the conviction that they weren't even mentioned at that convention. So, where do we stand? So, I understand that all these actions are causing them to become increasingly determined, and this determination is visible - stated Dorota Gardias in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- Today there are no reasons for this protest to even begin. I ask all teachers to understand that we want to raise teachers' salaries, we will do so in the coming years, and such a drastic form of protest is really not needed today - said Jacek Sasin in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on the program 'Graffiti' on Polsat News.

- We didn't see it. Please remember that "Solidarity" signed an agreement with the government that none of us saw. But we didn't have to see it. 15% of "Solidarity's" demands met. We didn't see this agreement. I only saw on television who was signing this agreement and that's all. Nothing more - stated Dorota Gardias in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego." - I would never have signed it in my life, without adhering to one formula, together with everyone else - she added.

„In my opinion, these were largely superficial concessions, because the initial offer from ZNP – a thousand zloty raise – was changed to a 30 percent raise, and that meant not much less. We are talking about an average raise for certified teachers,” said Minister Michał Dworczyk on Polskie Radio Jedynka. “Representatives of ZNP considered dividing it into two 15% raises, but also within this year.”

„We have proposed a new social pact for teachers. We said – agreed. If we want to radically increase teachers' salaries, we must rebuild the education system, because the current system, in which we have operated for years, has exhausted its possibilities. Even today, if we were to meet all teacher expectations, in a few years we would have to sit down at the table again and we would struggle with the same problems” - said Minister Michał Dworczyk in an interview on Radio Jedynka.

"I wanted to appeal to the teachers. If you believe that the strike is necessary, that's fine, but in the coming days, when exams are being held, please return to the children so that students can take their exams," said Minister Michał Dworczyk on Radio Jedynka.

When asked about the ZNP's (Polish Teachers' Union) stance on this appeal, he replied: "negative."

„[Broniarz] showed that it's not about agreement, but rather about confrontation. It's not that teachers are acting this way, but it's hard to resist the impression that teachers are sometimes treated instrumentally by some union leaders, including Mr. Chairman Broniarz, and are used for various kinds of games, with the well-being of teachers not being the most important issue here” - said Minister Michał Dworczyk on Radio Jedynka.

- Yesterday's negotiations were bizarre. This is because on Friday the government side presented its proposals, after which we learned from a press conference about what the government side had told us 15 minutes earlier. First, journalists received materials after our meeting, and we hadn't seen these materials. Yesterday, we received these materials, already in a colored, improved version, also relating to the OECD. The only thing is that these materials don't indicate anything relevant to the protest, strike, and tension we are experiencing today - stated Sławomir Broniarz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- Rather, if we can speak of categories of hardening, then the government side said "We don't have it, we won't give it." If the negotiator is Prime Minister Szydło, and Prime Minister Gowin twice in the last 10 days states that we won't give, we can't yield, we won't give trade unions anything because other professional groups will reach for it, then the question is who is actually conducting these negotiations and whether there is a will from the government to discuss also our problems - stated Sławomir Broniarz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- I have the impression that goodwill was lacking on the part of ZNP and Forum. 'Solidarity', which was very critical in many aspects concerning education and government actions, nevertheless recognized that for the good of Polish children and Polish parents, the agreement on schools should be signed - said Ryszard Czarnecki in an interview with Paweł Lisicki on "Sygnały Dnia" on Radio Jedynka.

- Exactly, the government played to split the unions. Especially since, in the package of four points that "Solidarity" is talking about, the issues of work evaluation, promotion, and de-bureaucratization were known to us back in December. Anna Zalewska wrote to ZNP about these proposed changes - stated Sławomir Broniarz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- Mr. Broniarz, who is a person who is expected to run for another term as president of ZNP, whom we have seen at KOD demonstrations, and thus at the extreme opposition to the government of the Republic of Poland, who, it must be said frankly, protested when the right-wing AWS government introduced middle schools, and is also protesting when the PiS government is abolishing these middle schools. It is clearly visible that this is a person for whom political emotions play a very significant role - said Ryszard Czarnecki in an interview with Paweł Lisicki on "Sygnały Dnia" on Radio Jedynka.

- He has become a candidate for the President of the European Commission. Elections in autumn. In this capacity, he tours Europe, as can be seen in Poland as well. Note that, from what I've checked, he hasn't taken leave even as the First Vice-President of the European Commission, which, of course, also raises a legitimate question in Brussels about what capacity he actually arrives in - said Ryszard Czarnecki in an interview with Paweł Lisicki on 'Sygnały Dnia' on Jedynka radio.

- If a starting teacher in Poland today receives a salary less than someone who owns four cows in Poland, and these are Jarosław Kaczyński's plans, that by owning four cows, you will receive more than a starting teacher, then it is a disgrace for the state, for all of us, that the government is pursuing such a policy - stated Robert Biedroń at a press conference.

https://twitter.com/ZandbergRAZEM/status/1115154082145218560

„We are facing the biggest crisis in education since 1993. The Polish government plays a disreputable role, disregarding teachers, education, and the serious problems of Polish schools. It is conducting negotiations with teachers without meeting even the minimum standards of negotiation, and without presenting any proposals to the teachers. These negotiations have more breaks than actual conversations with teachers. This has led to this crisis. The government's ideas do not reflect the authentic situation in education; they only cause this crisis to grow larger” - said Krystyna Szumilas from Civic Platform (PO) at a press conference in the Sejm.

„The reform of the education system has only one face. It is the face of PiS, Mrs. Zalewska, Prime Minister Szydło, and President Kaczyński. All this mess, chaos, the fear of children, and the anxiety of parents are the responsibility only of those who feel as if they are still in opposition. They feel uncomfortable in government suits when they have to take responsibility” - said former Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz - „They signed an agreement with themselves. A representative of Solidarity is also a councilor in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski for PiS. They sign an agreement with themselves to hide their incompetence and lack of ideas for solving the problem”.

„The measure of this success, which Prime Minister Szydło announced, is roughly equivalent to if Mr. Kaczyński were to talk to MEP Czarnecki today, sign some agreement with him, and then announce to the world as a success that he had signed an agreement with the European Union” - Kopacz added.

"I hope we won't be counting down for tens of days, that the strike can be extinguished by the government proposing concrete solutions. An agreement was possible. The ZNP (Polish Teachers' Union) significantly backed down from its demands, and there was an opportunity and time for the government to propose any solution. It was evident that PiS (Law and Justice party) did not care about extinguishing the strike," said the leader of Nowoczesna (Modern Poland), Katarzyna Lubnauer, at a press conference in the Sejm.

"The government decided to exploit teachers, to strip them of their dignity and respect, to serve their political interests, but this is an unpatriotic action, an action against the interests of the state. The authority of teachers is the foundation for good education and upbringing," she added. 

The draft bill on the Public Transport Development Fund is, in practice, the reinstatement of bus connections, making it another project from "Kaczyński's Five".

https://twitter.com/MichalOlech/status/1115188159707525121

- We have been preparing for today for many weeks, because the strike was announced many weeks ago. Unfortunately, the government has led us to this very point by not taking their demands seriously. Unfortunately, the talks that took place until the last hours yielded no results. Teachers felt they were not treated seriously. We understand the teachers' demands, just like the vast majority of parents, but our goal was, of course, to prepare well for this unprecedented situation, as there hasn't been a strike of this scale, encompassing an absolute majority of schools, in decades. The crisis management team has been functioning for many weeks. Today, we met just after 7:00 AM to analyze the situation on an ongoing basis. Because this situation changes by the hour. We met at the security center with the city guard, with all services responsible for order in Warsaw, including the mayors, to analyze the situation and be able to react to what is happening in real-time – stated Rafał Trzaskowski at a briefing.

- Just as the representatives of the "Solidarity" trade union managed to rise above emotions and sign an agreement, I want to emphasize once again the good agreement that guarantees pay rises for teachers. Additional pay rises beyond what was previously planned in the state budget. This is why we want to appeal and invite other trade union centers to talks once again - said Beata Szydło during a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

- Solutions that are not realistically achievable will not heal the situation. Therefore, we have proposed changes that, firstly, are possible. Secondly, they meet the expectations of the teaching community. Thirdly, they guarantee the development of Polish schools - added the Deputy Prime Minister, commenting on the agreement signed with "Solidarity".

- The government failed, Prime Minister Szydło failed. A change in the government's negotiation team is necessary because the ministers, and the Prime Minister, simply, perhaps provocatively, submitted this proposal on Friday, so that an agreement would not be reached yesterday evening, because an agreement between "Solidarność" and PiS does not solve the problems in Polish schools in any way, it is not a valuable agreement at all. It is an action aimed at breaking the unity of trade unions, not at improving the lot of students, teachers, or the quality of Polish education. We demand an immediate meeting with Prime Minister Morawiecki. He should take over the negotiations himself, conduct the negotiations, and present a concrete offer to the teachers - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in the Sejm.

- We cannot pretend today that the problem of the teaching profession can be solved solely by demanding more billions of zlotys. That will not solve the system. However, I also have the impression, I had this impression during our conversations, that trade union centers, and particularly the chairman [Broniarz], applied a philosophy of thinking: take from those who are already covered by universal, social programs and give to us. This will lead to nothing - said Beata Szydło during a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

- This is not an agreement between PiS and 'Solidarity,' but between PiS and PiS. The people who represented 'Solidarity' at the meeting are people who actively represent PiS at the local government level. 'Solidarity' has never hidden how pro-PiS it is, how much it serves as the backbone of Law and Justice - stated Ewa Kopacz in an interview with Łukasz Kijek on Gazeta.pl.

48.5% of schools and educational institutions have joined the strike - according to data from the Ministry of National Education, which 300POLITYKA has seen. This data is as of today, 12:00 PM.

83% of schools/teams are protesting in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, the highest rate nationwide, according to data from the Ministry of Education seen by 300POLITYKA. The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship ranks second, followed by the Łódzkie and Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeships in third place. In the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, only 14% of schools/teams are protesting, in Podkarpackie - 21%, and in Małopolskie - 26%. This data is as of today, 12:00 PM.

"This is a dramatic situation. For 30 years, we haven't had such a widespread, general strike in Polish schools, in educational institutions. This is a very serious problem that the government has failed to manage over recent years, but also in the past hours and days, when negotiations were feigned without any attempt to find a positive resolution. I'll leave aside this inept trio that tried to negotiate, I'll leave aside the Prime Minister who has hidden away and is nowhere to be seen. I want to address Jarosław Kaczyński, asking him to speak out on this matter, to say what the next steps are, what decisions will be made by the government he leads and the parliamentary majority. It cannot be the case that after bringing about a catastrophe in Polish schools, the ruling party remains silent and makes no decisions. If they cannot handle this crisis, they should simply say so directly and step down. We will manage the situation in schools" - said the Civic Platform (PO) leader, Grzegorz Schetyna, at a press conference in Krakow.

„We note with sadness the opposition's reactions to these proposals [for farmers]. They accuse us of having money for farmers but not for teachers. This framing incites one group against another. It pits one social group against another. It mocks the needs of farmers and rural residents” – stated PiS spokesperson, Deputy Marshal Beata Mazurek at a press conference – „This is not the first time the opposition has shown that it despises ideas that are not its own, that it mocks people's needs. This is what is happening this time in relation to farmers”.

The SLD announced Frans Timmermans' May activities on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/sldpoland/status/1115217931481374720?s=21

The PiS spokesperson commented on Twitter on the press conference held today by the Civic Platform leader.

https://twitter.com/beatamk/status/1115219498632667136?s=21

In the morning, the draft from the so-called "Kaczyński's Five" appeared on the agenda, but it was removed from it a few minutes ago.

https://twitter.com/MichalOlech/status/1115248200393347072

- I would like to emphasize one thing. I want Poland to live like Germany. That is my great ambition. Of course, years will still pass before we manage to achieve this. I want Poles to live better and better. I want the distribution of goods in our country to be fair - said President Andrzej Duda during a meeting with residents of Słubice.

Minister of Education Anna Zalewska will be a guest on "Sygnały dnia" (Signals of the Day) on Tuesday at 7:40 AM, Polish Radio announced.

- We are currently facing a difficult situation in the country. There is a teachers' strike happening right now. It's impossible not to mention it. I have said many times that I stand in solidarity with the teachers. Please understand that I look at these hardworking people, because the work of a teacher is not easy. These are people who raise our children. People who, I am convinced, in the absolute majority strive to perform their work as best as possible, as diligently as possible, with the greatest care precisely to ensure that future generations of Poles are brought up and educated as well as possible. These people should be rewarded with dignity. They have the right to expect this, and in this regard, I stand in solidarity with them - said President Andrzej Duda during a meeting with the residents of Sulęcin.

- However, I ask that they present their expectations in such a way that they can be realized. It is extremely important to reach an agreement. I thank those teachers who are inclined towards this agreement. It is very necessary so that we can continue to calmly pursue the development of Poland. But I have a huge request for the teachers. Ladies and gentlemen, the gimnazjum exams begin on Wednesday. The children, the gimnazjum youth, are experiencing this very much. The parents are experiencing this very much. I ask for understanding in this regard. It is extremely important. I ask all teachers, my fellow countrymen, so that the youth can take these exams peacefully. Ladies and gentlemen, allow them to take these exams peacefully. Afterward, we will continue to discuss, and at most, you will continue the strike - added the president.

- We are witnessing an exceptionally cynical attempt today, which I understand is also being propagated by opposition leaders, to the effect that all promises to all social groups will be fulfilled and everyone, regardless of how much they demand, will receive it - said Łukasz Schreiber in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

- Our goal is what Plato already wrote about and appealed for. Rulers should care for the entire Republic and for all social groups, and not divide one against another. This is the philosophy that guides us - said Łukasz Schreiber in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program 'Wydarzenia i Opinie' (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

-- Polish Radio announces an early morning interview with Anna Zalewska, Dworczyk on the prospect of salary increases and teachers leaving the profession, PAD on wanting life in Poland to be like in Germany - LIVEBLOG 300POLITYKI:
https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/04/08/

*****

POLSAT EVENTS

-- BLACK MONDAY IN POLISH SCHOOLS, THE INDEFINITE TEACHERS' STRIKE HAS BEGUN - announcement.

-- THE STRIKE OF TEACHERS WAS DECIDED BY THE FAILURE OF YESTERDAY EVENING'S LAST-CHANCE TALKS - Dariusz Ociepa.

-- YESTERDAY'S PROPOSAL - THE SAME ONE THE GOVERNMENT PRESENTED ON FRIDAY - WAS REJECTED BY FZZ AND ZNP - Ociepa continues: Only the "Solidarity" education union agreed to sign the agreement.

-- THIS MORNING "SOLIDARNOŚĆ" APPEALS TO ITS MEMBERS NOT TO JOIN THE STRIKE - Ociepa.

-- BUT THE UNION'S GRASSROOTS IN MANY PLACES DID NOT OBEY THE HEADQUARTERS - Ociepa continues.

-- DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SZYDŁO APPEALED FOR THE STRIKE TO BE SUSPENDED - Ociepa.

-- GRZEGORZ SCHETYNA APPEALS TO JAROSŁAW KACZYŃSKI TO SPEAK OUT ON THE TEACHERS' ISSUE - Ociepa continues.

-- ANNA ZALEWSKA DID NOT APPEAR AT THE CONFERENCE WITH BEATA SZYDŁO - Ociepa.

-- CLOSED SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS, EMPTY CLASSROOMS AND PARENTS FACING THE PROBLEM OF WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

-- TAXI DRIVERS' PROTEST.

*****

TVN FACTS

-- DATA FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOOK DIFFERENT - in the announcement.

-- PHOTOS OF EMPTY HALLS AND CORRIDORS.

-- THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S DATA FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFER FROM THE DATA PROVIDED BY THE STRIKE ORGANIZERS - Krzysztof Skórzyński.

-- FOR TWO MINUTES, THE DEPUTY HEAD OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SPOKE ABOUT THE DATA IN A WAY THAT MADE IT INCREASINGLY UNCLEAR - Skórzyński.

-- SKÓRZYŃSKI ON THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S DATA: Usually, in vocational and complex schools, the same striking teachers teach.

-- AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THE GOVERNMENT IS NO LONGER SAYING THE EXAMS WILL TAKE PLACE - Skórzyński.

-- IF A PROPOSAL FROM FRIDAY IS BROUGHT ON SUNDAY, THE GOVERNMENT INCREASES THE ANGER AND DETERMINATION OF TEACHERS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE NEGOTIATIONS LOOKED LIKE - in the announcement.

-- THE SOLIDARITY AUTHORITIES REACHED AN AGREEMENT, BUT THERE ARE TEACHERS FROM SOLIDARITY WHO WANT RAISES, NOT ACTS OF POLITICAL LOYALTY - in the announcement.

-- STRIKING UNION MEMBERS ARE THE MOST ELOQUENT VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE HEAD OF THE TEACHERS' SOLIDARITY - Arleta Zalewska.

-- IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH TEACHERS FROM SOLIDARITY HAVE SAID NO TO THEIR UNION LEADERS - Zalewska.

-- THE ACTIONS OF THEIR OWN UNION ARE MOST SHARPLY ASSESSED BY ACTIVISTS OF SOLIDARITY ITSELF - Zalewska.

-- ARLETA ZALEWSKA ON THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY OF DIVIDING THE COMMUNITY AND PRAISING SOLIDARITY'S STANCE DURING NEGOTIATIONS.

-- FOR HOW MUCH DID YOU SELL US, MR. PROKSA - one of the activists.

-- TAXI DRIVERS' PROTEST.

*****

TVP NEWS

-- ZNP REJECTED THE PROPOSAL OF A 15 PERCENT RAISE AND BEGAN AN INDEFINITE STRIKE. LESSONS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED IN ALMOST HALF OF THE SCHOOLS - announcement.

-- A WEEK OF NEGOTIATIONS ENDED WITH AN AGREEMENT, BUT ONLY WITH ONE OF THE THREE TRADE UNIONS - Bartłomiej Graczak.

-- TEACHERS' PENSIONS WERE FROZEN FROM 2012 AND BEGAN TO RISE FROM 2017 - Graczak.

-- FOR PARENTS, THE STRIKE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM - Graczak.

-- THE STRIKE WAS MOST FELT IN LARGE CITIES - Graczak.

-- THERE IS A FEAR THAT THE EXAMS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE - Graczak: Examination committees may not be formed in schools until Wednesday.

-- THE GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO THE UNIONS TO RETURN TO TALKS - Graczak: The President assures that he understands the demands but appeals for the exams to proceed as planned.

-- THE LEADER OF ZNP IS NOT EVEN TRYING TO HIDE HIS POLITICAL SYMPATHIES. OPPOSITION POLITICIANS SUPPORTED HIM IN HIS QUEST FOR A STRIKE - announcement.

-- FOR THE GOVERNMENT, ZNP'S CONDITIONS WERE PROHIBITIVE - Krzysztof Nowina-Konopka.

-- TEACHERS' WAGES WERE FROZEN FROM 2012 TO 2015, THE RETIREMENT AGE WAS RAISED, OVER 1000 SCHOOLS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS WERE ELIMINATED. BACK THEN, BRONIARZ DID NOT PROTEST OR THREATEN TO STRIKE - Nowina-Konopka.

-- TRZASKOWSKI RESIGNED FROM GRANTING RAISES TO WARSAW TEACHERS AT THE REQUEST OF ZNP - Nowina-Konopka.

-- BRONIARZ HAS NOT HIDDEN HIS POLITICAL SYMPATHIES SINCE THE PRL ERA - Nowina-Konopka.

-- SINCE PiS WON THE ELECTIONS, BRONIARZ HAS MULTIPLE TIMES APPEARED ALONGSIDE PO, PSL, AND NOWOCZESNA POLITICIANS. HE WAS INVOLVED IN KOD MANIFESTATIONS - Nowina-Konopka.

-- THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SIGNED AN OFFSET AGREEMENT WITH LEONARDO IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF HELICOPTERS FOR THE NAVY.

-- ALTHOUGH POLAND WITHDREW FROM THE PROVISIONS ON UNEQUAL JUDICIAL RETIREMENT AGE, THE CJEU IS NOT ABANDONING THE COMMISSION'S EXAMINATION AND IS INVESTIGATING HISTORICAL PROVISIONS - announcement.

-- TIMMERMANS DID NOT WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT, AND THE CJEU EXAMINED THE ALREADY AMENDED PROVISIONS TODAY - Jan Korab.

-- DURING THE CJEU SESSION, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE COMMISSION IS NOT ABANDONING FURTHER ATTACKS - Korab.

-- IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE DISPUTE IS NOT LEGAL BUT POLITICAL IN NATURE - Korab.

-- TIMMERMANS DOES NOT CARE THAT AS THE ACTING DEPUTY HEAD OF THE COMMISSION, HE MAKES ACCUSATIONS AGAINST POLAND AT A PARTY RALLY OF WIOSNA - Korab.

-- THEY MOCK AND SCOFF - EU COMMISSION POLITICIANS RIDICULE PiS PROPOSALS FOR THE POLISH COUNTRYSIDE - announcement.

-- THE CHAIRMAN OF PiS ANNOUNCED THE NEGOTIATION OF HIGHER SUBSIDIES IN THE NEW BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE - Maciej Sawicki.

-- WHAT PLEASES FARMERS, THE OPPOSITION MOCKS - Sawicki.

-- EVEN THE LEADER OF THE PEASANT PARTY CRITICIZES PiS PROPOSALS - Sawicki.

-- THE OPPOSITION, BY RIDICULING PiS PROPOSALS, MAY COMPLETELY ALIENATE THE RURAL ELECTORATE - Sawicki.

-- THE TRIALS OF CEZARY GRABARCZYK AND LIGA K. HAVE COMMENCED.

-- TAXI DRIVERS' PROTEST.

- The fire is here and now. When it's burning, we don't discuss the fire department's organizational structure; we extinguish the fire. We say that a bigger problem than what the Prime Minister is saying is the flawed structure of the teacher remuneration system. We are ready to discuss this an hour after the talks on salary increases conclude - said Zdzisław Broniarz in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) program on Polsat News.

- The most important thing is the well-being of children and young people who will be taking exams. The government is focused on ensuring that all students have the opportunity to take exams. I hope that teachers will also consider that this is a vocational mission, and therefore they will try to do everything so that their students can take the exams – stated Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Michał Adamczyk on TVP Info's "Gość Wiadomości".

- If there are schools where there are examiners, then these exams will likely take place. I don't have the authority to suspend this protest today. On the contrary, the events of the last few days, this extremist part, forgive my expression, this more radical part, motivates us to be firm until the very end - said Zdzisław Broniarz in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program 'Events and Opinions' on Polsat News.

- I didn't assemble this coalition. If any of these parties had proposed running separately, I definitely wouldn't have agreed. I considered it for a very long time, because entering politics is not something easy for me - said Janina Ochojska in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

- The government side is open [to talks]. Prime Minister Szydło has repeatedly emphasized that the government side is open. There was a specific proposal, one, then another, then a third. Only one trade union, namely "Solidarity," stated that this is indeed a good path to reach a compromise, to cause teacher salaries to be higher, because of course the government side is also aware that teacher salaries are low, but it is a certain process that has begun and I hope it will reach a satisfactory end for both sides - stated Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Michał Adamczyk on "Gość Wiadomości" TVP Info.

"The strike is caused by one, obvious stance of those responsible for organizing the education system. It is the result of these people [teachers] being driven to the wall, cornered with no room to maneuver. It is the teachers who have taken on the burden of this inept reform. They are the ones who met with parents and discussed what would happen and what chances children would have when applying for places in high schools" - said former Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.

- It appears we are dealing with a politician who has donned a union leader's mask, but who has political goals he wants to achieve. He was, after all, a member of parliament for SLD, and now SLD is in the European Coalition together with Civic Platform and the Polish People's Party. So, it looks like a political dispute. One can also add that before the reform introduced by the PiS government, before the reform involving the phasing out of junior high schools and the return to an eight-grade primary school and a four-year high school system, ZNP, many ZNP activists said that teachers would lose their jobs, that there would be a crisis. It turned out that there are even additional positions, jobs in education, and during the PO-PSL coalition, over 2.5 thousand schools were liquidated. So, we are dealing with a political struggle, and we could say: okay, these are the conditions set by the ZNP trade union, which is very strongly positioned politically. The only problem is that this political struggle is at the expense of children, young people, who have a question mark hanging over them, and parents are wondering if they will be able to take their exams – stated Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Michał Adamczyk on TVP Info's "Gość Wiadomości".

"I have no complaints whatsoever towards those who belong to this union [teachers' Solidarity], because they also joined this protest in part. My only regret is towards the leadership of this union, which has sidelined the interests of its members and has started to favor those who are its political masters. This is the worst when a union leader cares more about the interests of the ruling elite and neglects their union members" - said former Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.

"I think about it 24 hours a day [about parents' sympathy turning away from protesting teachers]. On the one hand, there is growing pressure from groups saying that since we have led to a strike, why should we back down from this thousand zloty [increase]. This does not improve our negotiating position, but I would like the government to know this. On the other hand, there is a very serious threat that withdrawing from this type of action may be ineffective, because groups will emerge saying 'no, we ourselves are the organizers of this protest, we are conducting this strike ourselves'. We may lose control over the course of these events" – Sławomir Broniarz, the head of ZNP, said in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.