The stepping-down government has silently signed agreement with the authorities of the Polish catholic Church.
“The contract was signed on October 31st. As of January 1st 2008, duty chambers will employ catholic chaplains. According to initial plans, first, they will start their service in five chambers out of 16”, Jakub Lutyk, the spokesman of the Ministry of Finance said.
The chaplains are going to receive not only jobs in administration but also military ranks.
Trade unions don’t like it.
“So far, the priests have worked for free. We don’t need to employ priests, and in addition of one religion, to give them jobs and quite high wages (PLN 6,000-7,000, or EUR 1,650-1,925). The agreement with church authorities was signed illegally because it’s not provided in the law on the duty service. We will try to make the new government abolish the plans”, Iwona Folta, the head of the Federation of Duty Services Trade Unions said.
“I wouldn’t like to comment at that moment but the stepping-down government has not made the best decision”, Zbigniew Chlebowski, the head of Citizens’ Party commented.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.275)