Instead of Christmas carols, threats are heard. ZUS trade unionists demand pay rises and announce a protest
Trade unions at ZUS submitted a request to the Minister of Family, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, for a raise of PLN 1,200 gross per full-time position, pointing out that the lack of reaction may trigger an unprecedented employee protest – we read in “Fakt”.
The letter with demands was submitted by four ZUS trade unions. It was received by the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, and concerns primarily an increase in the basic salaries of all ZUS employees by an average PLN 1,200 gross per full-time position from January 1, 2026.
Overtime, ethics and decent pay…
Trade unions are demanding: improving working conditions at ZUS by adapting employment to the number of tasks, limiting the ordering of overtime only to emergency situations and resuming training in ethics and counteracting mobbing, with particular emphasis on the management staff – writes “Fakt”.
Has the “endurance limit” been exceeded?
“Employees are already at the end of their endurance. There is growing dissatisfaction with the lack of real payment for additional tasks assigned to ZUS by the Polish government. The government's failure to respond to our appeals to increase the amount of the personal fund deduction for employee remuneration in the budget act, while informing the public about the amount of funds secured for the payment of benefits, will lead to a protest on an unprecedented scale,” warn four trade unions operating at ZUS.
There were requests to increase the limits, but to no avail
The Social Insurance Institution responds that it cannot meet the demands of trade unions. ZUS spokesman Karol Poznański informed “Fakt” that The plant only has funds provided for in the financial plan, which means that the increases can only amount to 3%.in line with the level of the entire budget sphere. Implementation of the trade union demands would result in a violation of the Budget Act and public finance regulations, and attempts to increase the remuneration limit at the Ministry of Finance were unsuccessful.
Comment on one of the demands
According to “Fakt”, ZUS responded to the demand regarding overtime in the following way – the Institute's data shows that the average number of overtime hours per employee decreased from 55.8 in 2020 to 37.4 between January and July 2025. ZUS emphasizes that the implementation of additional tasks does not always require working after hours, although in exceptional situations, e.g. when implementing a widow's pension, overtime was necessary, and A total of PLN 30 million was allocated for their remuneration in 2025.
The question remains, therefore, under what sign the upcoming year 2026 will begin.
WM
