The employees' main demand is a gross increase of PLN 1,200. “Between 12:00 and 14:00, we put down scanners and trolleys and leave our workstations. Every employee has the full right to stop working during a strike – regardless of whether he or she is a member of a trade union. The unity of all employees is crucial, because the more of us there are, the more clearly we will show that trade deserves real changes” write trade unionists from OPZZ Confederation of Labor on their Facebook profile.
The strike is intended to encourage the company's authorities to increase wages – wage negotiations have been going on for months and both sides have been unable to reach an agreement.
Pursuant to Art. 12 of the Act on Resolving Group Disputes, “if the course of the mediation proceedings justifies the assessment that they will not lead to the resolution of the dispute before the deadlines (provided for by the Act), the organization that initiated the dispute may organize a warning strike once and for a period not longer than two hours.”
Tomorrow, after the strike, further talks on pay rises are scheduled to take place. If there is no compromise again, trade unionists do not rule out resorting to a general strike. Employees will be able to decide on this solution after organizing a referendum. If the majority voted in favor of the solution, then the first general strike in history in the trade sector could occur in Poland. And trade unionists do not rule out that, if necessary, they will take even further steps.
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“The moment may come when it will be necessary to enter into collective disputes in most retail chains and conduct a solidarity, industry-wide strike,” they emphasized in one of the messages.
Kaufland speaks out
In an interview with “Fakt”, Jakub Mazur from the Kaufland press office argued that the protest will not be nationwide and that stores will operate normally. “More than 12,000 Kaufland employees employed as salesperson/cashier and cleaning employee will receive higher remuneration from January 1, 2026. From March 2026, employees in other positions in supermarkets and logistics will receive raises,” he said.
According to the unions, the increase is only PLN 200 gross.
