Protests will be conducted from 10.00 to 14.00 in 13 locations throughout the country. The blockades appeared, among others in Czechowice-Dziedzice (DK1), Dąbrowa Górnicza (al. Piłsudskiego), Wasilków (DK19) and in Warsaw at ul. Marywilska. The announced protest in Gądki near Poznań raises doubts – the mayor of Kórnik did not agree to the blockade, which put her in question.
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Crisis at PKP Cargo and group layoffs
The source of the frustration of train drivers are drastic personnel cuts at PKP Cargo – the largest freight carrier in the country. Last year, the company carried out group layoffs, reducing employment by 3,665 people. At the beginning of June 2025, another reduction wave was announced, which is to cover over 1,000 employees next year and nearly 1,400 more in 2026.
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The railway is losing, roads are gaining
“Thousands of people associated with rail transport are losing their jobs while road transport is experiencing a boom“-says Leszek Miętek, chairman of the Railway Sternists' Trade Union. He emphasizes that the resignation from rail transport for TIRs is not only economically irrational, but also contrary to the government's ecological declarations.
Protesters indicate the growing advantage of road transport in the transport of building materials, steel or aggregates. “100 trucks would replace one freight train. Still, more environmentally harmful solutions are promoted,” says Miętek. In addition, he points out that the exemptions of train drivers can have long -term effects – their training is time consuming and expensive, and lost staff will be difficult to recover.
Railwaymen are protesting. The government responds
The Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak ensures that the ministry shares many trade union demands. “We want more goods and passengers to be transported by rail. This will be possible thanks to new investments and the purchase of new rolling stock” – he said.
In turn, Deputy Minister Piotr Malepszak calms: drivers from the freight sector can successfully move on to passenger traffic, which is growing. As he indicates, after proper training, they are able to conduct intercity compositions and regional carriers.
