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GV Gierek at rostrum as members applaud (SOUND STARTS IN POLISH AT 6 FEET) CUTAWAYS of people listening - speech ends.
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GV Gierek acknowledging applause
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Initials BB/0200 CH/PN/BB/0210



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Background: A National Congress of Polish Trade Unions opened in Warsaw on Monday (13 November) to discuss key outstanding labour problems and economic progress under the regime of Communist Party leader Edward Gierek.

Mr. Gierek spoke at the opening of the three-day congress, the first since he took power after workers' riots over food price increases in 1970.

In his remarks to the 1,700 delegates, Mr. Gierek called for greater efforts by workers to fulfil his ambitious economic reform programme. This has already brought higher wages and a substantial increase in industrial output.

SYNOPSIS: Communist Party leader Edward Gierek was the keynote speaker at the opening of the National Congress of Polish Trade Unions in Warsaw on Monday.

In his remarks to the seventeen-hundred delegates to the three-day labour congress, Mr. Gierek called for greater efforts by workers to fulfil his ambitious economic reform programme. These programmes have already brought higher wages and a substantial increase in industrial output.

It was just over two years ago that Mr. Gierek took power after workers' riots over food price increases in 1970.

During the congress, labour problems and economic progress under Mr. Gierek's regime will be discussed.

The response to the Communist Party's leader was evidence of labour's support for his policies.