Eastern Border Standstill

Polish customs officers started their protested last Fall but their silent struggle ade no impression no the goverment, nor did it influence any aministartive decissions. The officers demand a sizeable raise (1500 PLN) and a change in the regulations.

They are especially angry about a rule stating that a sustoms officers accused of bribery is to be dismissed form service immediately, without awaiting prior court sentence. They fear that this regulation may and will lead to cases of false accusations when an angry driver will want to get back at them for being thorough on the job.

They also demand the possibility of earlier retirement.

With no government feedback, they decided to increase their protesting force and they have gone on sick leaves, and are taking their on-demand days off, en masse.

On Wednesda a 50-year-old truck driver died, who had been waiting at the border since Monday. Doctors say that exhaustion is possible death cause. He died while still 6 kilometers from the border crossing in Dorohusk.

With most of the men on leaves the crossings on eatern border are heavily undermanned, hence the long waiting lines.

However things may aggrevate as the truck drivers announce their readiness and will to protest as well if things do not improve. They are to block the main eastbound routes and block access to Warsaw on Friday. Allegedly this is what they wrote in a letter to the Minister of Finance.