What's next for JSW? Boss of August '80: The company should “slim down” by approx. 6,000. people

Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa should lose weight by approx. 6,000. people – said Bogusław Ziętek, chairman of August '80, on Monday. He noted that for now, the Mining Act does not include financing for protective instruments for such a number of employees.

In a Monday interview on Radio Piekary, Ziętek was asked, among others: about the starry march announced for Tuesday in Katowice of organizations associated in the Inter-Union Protest and Strike Committee of the Silesian-Dąbrowa Region and about the situation in JSW.

Referring to the draft amendment to the Act on the Operation of the Hard Coal Mining Industry adopted last week, which includes protective instruments for people leaving the mining industry, the leader of August '80 noted that although JSW was added to it at the request of the unions, appropriate financing for this Act is also needed.

– We are facing liquidation of the Bobrek, Bielszowice and Wujek mines next year and in the near future – and these funds (for financing protective instruments – PAP) will certainly be missing – Ziętek said, recalling that only in the Polska Grupa Górnicza the so-called Approximately 4.5 thousand people are entitled to mining leave. people, and a similar number is in JSW.

– According to what those in power have said so far, approximately PLN 440 million has been allocated additionally for JSW. Well, that's roughly 2,000. one-time severance pay. This is definitely not enough. JSW should lose some PLN 6,000. employees, I am talking about the entire capital group, so if 2 thousand people take advantage of one-off severance pay, we will exhaust this pool – said the trade unionist. He noted that “slimming” should apply primarily to non-production workers.

He also estimated that JSW alone needs approximately PLN 1 billion for protective instruments for next year. – We have to look for these funds – he emphasized. – Moreover, two years of government and only one solution (a draft amendment to the Mining Act – PAP) is definitely not enough – said Ziętek.

He added that this is also a problem, that “in Silesia it is not only mining that is falling apart.” – We have problems with the steel industry and the automotive industry, so this demonstration is such a cry of despair from the workers and society of our region that we need to sit down and work on further solutions – said the head of Sierpnia'80.

He pointed out that the government faces the challenge of “adapting” two documents that are key to the industry to the situation: the so-called social agreement for the hard coal mining industry of 2021 and the updated National Energy and Climate Plan.

– I hope that the main document will be the social contract, because it is impossible otherwise, reality simply dictates it, among others. because by 2045 we will not have any nuclear energy, and I think this time will be longer – said Bogusław Ziętek.

At the end of 2024, the Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa group employed over 32.3 thousand. employees; in JSW alone it was over 21.3 thousand. people.(PAP)

(we plan to continue the topic)

mtb/pad/