The protest in Silesia is already underway sixth day. Mine workers are demanding talks with the Minister of Energy, Miłosz Motyka, who has not visited the protesters so far.
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Protest in Silesia. Picket and extraordinary meeting
The picket in front of the PG Silesia headquarters will start on Monday at 10.30. Earlier, at 9, in Czechowice-Dziedzice will take place extraordinary meeting of the National Council of the Hard Coal Mining Section of NSZZ “Solidarność”.
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Currently, approximately 20 people undergroundand several more support the action on the surface. As the organizers point out, the protest does not have the character of a strike, but is a form of pressure on the authorities.
Protest in Silesia. No agreement with the ministry
The protesters are demanding the arrival of Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka, who previously called for the suspension of the action and promised to start talks after January 6. However, this proposal did not satisfy the miners. On Thursday, the minister sent another letter in which he invited trade unionists to the meeting of the Tripartite Industry Team for the Social Security of Miners, scheduled for January 7 at the Silesian Voivodeship Office.
Miners and trade unionists were critical of this proposal. The chairman of NSZZ “Solidarność”, Piotr Duda, wrote on platform X that miners “continue their protest and declare that they will stay underground until the end”. Trade union leaders in Silesia emphasized that only a personal visit of the minister and a conversation with staff representatives could end the protest action.
Protest in Silesia. Miners' demands
The trade unions presented specific terms of the agreement. They demand that the Ministry of Energy guarantee Silesia employees the possibility of being transferred to the nearest mine in the event of bankruptcy or liquidation of the plant. Another postulate is an amendment to the Mining Act, which would cover Silesia's employees with protective instruments, which from January 1, 2026 are only available to companies with State Treasury shareholding..
The miners expect, among other things, the mine owner, the Bumech Group, and the court administrator: a guarantee that no consequences will be brought against the protesters, as well as setting a date for the payment of outstanding benefits, including the St. Barbara's Day award.
See also: A gift for miners on St. Barbara's Day. The Sejm adopted an amendment to the act
PG Silesia is the largest private coal mine in Poland. In 2022, it accounted for approximately 3%. domestic production of thermal coal and 2.3 percent hard coal. Despite its significant role on the market, the plant is struggling with serious financial problems.
At the end of November, the manager of the Silesia restructuring estate informed trade unions about planned group layoffs, which would cover over 750 people. The Bumech Group, the owner of the company operating the mine, proposed leasing the plant and taking over some of the employees on the terms set out in the Labor Code. Due to this offer, the decision on layoffs was postponed to January.
