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Polish Politico
Rory Mallon tells the story of a Polish immigrant who has decided to play an active part in Northern Ireland politics
Aching limbs riddled with lactic acid from working 20 hours a day. Holding down two jobs as a cleaner and a kitchen porter. Getting no more that 15 hours’ sleep throughout the week and all for just £90. In 2004, Daniel Konieczny found himself in this situation and while this cruel existence would have broke most people’s spirit, Daniel’s resolve kept him going.
He had arrived here with little English and little money but with plenty of ambition. He had been studying politics in Wroclaw University in south-west Poland. However, he was faced with a stark decision; continue his studies or seek employment in order to get money. Like so many other eastern Europeans he chose the latter.
While his mother and sister went to Germany, Daniel decided to come to Northern Ireland. His initial goal was simple: “I wanted to learn English”. Somewhat of a language specialist, he speaks English, Russian, German and Polish. He is also in the process of learning Portuguese, Chinese and Lithuanian. Daniel quickly realised that language was the single biggest stumbling block if he wanted to express an opinion. He began volunteering and it was through his community work with ethnic minorities that he came to the attention of the DUP.
Initially volunteering within the Old Warren Partnership, he co-ordinated a string of support groups aimed at ex-prisoners, youths and single mothers. It became clear to him that around local issues, immigrants were starved of a voice. Very often they wanted to discuss conditions, but without English they couldn’t. To combat this he set about devising information days, where ethnic minorities could find out what they were entitled to, and could get help filling out the relative forms.
He is also secretary of the Polish
Association of NI, a job which allows him to try and enhance working conditions for some 30,000 Poles who know live on our shores. These twin roles led him to think it was time to join a party, and he says he chose the DUP because they “support the rights of the workers and equality for all ethnic minorities”.
His decision is all the more surprising given he’s a Catholic. With his background in political studies in Poland, he already had a vested interest in the political climate. Removing himself from the age old religious debate, he identified with the “forward thinking and ambitious leadership of the DUP”. He was invited to join the party by Jeffrey Donaldson, and last month addressed the DUP conference in Armagh to rapturous applause. Getting people interested in politics won’t be a problem, according to Daniel. He believes that “once people get settled within society, they will take an interest in family issues, schooling, language, and buying houses.”
Not all Poles share his views though. Aleksandra Lojek-Magdziarz is the editor-in-chief of Glosik, a magazine dedicated to Polish people living in Northern Ireland. Their key aim is to facilitate the integration of Polish culture within Irish society, and provide a voice. While she accepts that everyone is entitled to their opinion, she believes Daniel “doesn’t represent the majority of Poles and that he might antagonise some people by joining the DUP as people may think his attitude is representative of all Poles.”
Alex Kophavorchek, a Polish immigrant, admits that she came here for financial reasons. The lure of employment may have brought her here, but in terms of politics she says "there's no one to really identify with”. She says that she “isn’t too interested in politics but that her opinions may change in two or three years”. It appears as though the lack of genuine representation hinders minority interest in politics. For this to change people like Daniel need to dip their toes in the political pond.
Anna Lo is the only MLA from an ethnic minority background. She feels that more needs to be done. She says that “all MLAs are supportive on the whole when speaking about issues such as migrant workers and human trafficking.” However, one thing she does want to happen is the implementation of the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration legislation. Supposed to promote community race relations, it has “been stagnant for a year and a half”, says Lo.
In this time we have seen the Polish community become the biggest ethic minority in Northern Ireland. There are now enough children from immigrants from Poland to create a chain of Polish-medium schools across the north. If Daniel is to achieve his goal of “networking all the eastern European immigrants together”, he will have to continue to cultivate support across the board. He is organising English classes for all immigrants, sponsored by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, so that they can interact on the same level that he can.
While he stops short of declaring his political aspirations, he does say that “if it is beneficial for people, then I would consider running for a council position”. As the Polish community continues to grow, the level of representation will have to as well. Daniel reveals that he has been asked to join Policing Board meetings and the Ethnic Minority Forum where he will be able to further the rights of immigrants.
What is refreshing, however, is that while we are surrounded by economic turmoil, and political uncertainty, Daniel has taken on the bold decision to throw his cap into the political arena. He tells me he is currently in the process of setting up his own business, a hairdressing salon, and has recently qualified as an interpreter. No matter where his path ends, it is clear his life has taken major steps forward. No more aching limbs, no more 20-hour days. For Daniel, life has got a lot more enjoyable. In his own words, “I don’t even care about the money; I’m just enjoying working with people so much.”
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