UEFA President Platini invites Solidarnosc-Leader Piotr Duda

The leader of the Polish Trade Union NSZZ Solidarnosc, Piotr Duda, will meet the President of the Union of European Football Associations (Union des Associations Européennes de Football) Michel Platini on Wednesday the 9th of March at 2 p.m. in Nyon/Switzerland. Platini has answered a letter sent by Piotr Duda in January 2011, in which Duda protested against the non-renewal of working contracts for Solidarnosc-members in the Polish discounter chain Biedronka. Biedronka is the biggest food store chain in Poland with 1600 markets owned by Jeronimo Martins Distribution from Portugal. But it is also an official sponsor of the Polish Football Association PZPN before and during the UEFA European Football Championship (UEFA Euro 2012). Duda wrote, such practices might damage the image of the PZPN and of the Euro 2012 preparations in Poland. The second topic Duda wants to talk with Platini about is the promotion of the history of NSZZ Solidarność during the Championship, since this trade union has its roots in Gdańsk, which is one of four Polish towns in which Euro 2012 matches will take place.  (Achim Baatzsch)