JSW suspends negotiations with unions. The management board is analyzing “alternative restructuring”

The management board of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa suspended talks with the social side, which significantly changed its negotiating position, the company announced on Tuesday. According to trade unionists, the JSW management board did not provide a reason; some unions believe that it was related to the visit of the Speaker of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty.

The unions declare that they entered Tuesday's talks with their own draft agreement, but the management refused to discuss it and, as a result, the meeting was interrupted. Some unions believe that the suspension was a result of the situation related to Czarzasty's visit.

As the JSW press office reported on Tuesday afternoon, “representative trade union organizations, citing media reports containing statements by the Marshal of the Republic of Poland, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, have significantly changed their negotiating position.”

Due to the above, the JSW management board was forced to suspend the talks. Failure to reach an agreement makes it necessary for the management board to analyze alternative forms of restructuring the company – the information added.

“It should be noted that the change in the negotiating position of the trade unions took place despite yesterday's approximation of positions, achieved during talks with the participation of the Deputy Minister of State Assets, Grzegorz Wrona. Today's events constitute a significant step backwards and lead to an interruption in the continuity of the negotiation process,” the company's press service said.

They assured that the JSW management board and the Ministry of State Assets remain determined to continue activities aimed at securing thousands of jobs, the company's interest and ensuring its continued operation.

JSW trade unions are responsible to the management board

The Facebook profile of Solidarity at JSW stated that “the talks were suddenly suspended at the request of the JSW management board, without giving any reason,” and the situation was said to have occurred just after the start of the meeting, which was held at 3 p.m. in the presence of Deputy Minister Wrona.

“Even though the social side joined the talks in good faith and with its own, substantive draft agreement developed by the represented JSW trade unions, the management board refused to engage in any discussion on the presented proposals. As a result, without explanations and without any attempt to continue the dialogue, the meeting was interrupted,” Solidarity JSW said.

She commented that such behavior of the management board “raises serious doubts as to the real will to conduct a constructive dialogue social and seeking an agreement that would be beneficial both for employees and the future of the company.

The joint profile of the HR at JSW and the Trade Union of Miners in Poland at JSW confirmed that on Tuesday “negotiations between representative trade union organizations and the management board of JSW, with the participation of Deputy Minister Grzegorz Wrona, were suspended.”

“The negotiations were suspended at the initiative of the company's management board. We assume that the suspension was a result of the new situation related to the visit of the Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland,” Kadra and ZZG said.

Czarzasty: Lack of coordination and the need for a “national discussion”

Marshal Czarzasty came to Jastrzębie-Zdrój on Tuesday at the invitation of the Miners' Trade Union in Poland. In the company of Deputy Minister of Energy Marian Zmarzły, among others. met with representatives of the union and the company.

At a later briefing, the marshal referred to talks between the JSW management board and the social side, with the participation of the Deputy Minister of State Assets, Grzegorz Wrona, regarding a draft agreement that would adjust remuneration costs to the company's current financial capabilities.

“I know that talks are taking place at the moment and I know that this issue at the coalition level should be analyzed and discussed quickly. I have gained basic knowledge that gives me the opportunity to take a position on this matter, and that's what I really came for,” explained the head of the New Left.

He considered the company's situation to be very difficult. “I think that due to the fact that coking coal is mined here, due to the number of employees or due to the recent poor management of this company, there must be an acceleration in discussions and decision-making,” he said.

He declared that he would take part in such a discussion on behalf of himself, the people he talked to in Jastrzębie, and the Left, taking a position that took into account the interests of JSW employees, but also the interests of the state in the perspective of taking care of rare coking coal resources in Europe.

“I see the need to interest all authorities in this matter, because it seems to me that the interest of all authorities is not sufficient. You have to get down to it immediately” – said Czarzasty and when asked, he clarified that he would first of all inform the coalition partners about the JSW case.

The Marshal of the Sejm also drew attention to the problem of the distribution of competences in the government in matters such as JSW among many ministries. “It would be good to appoint a team and a group of people to deal with the entire problem, and not one ministry, one ministry, another ministry, a third ministry, because lack of coordination may lead to what is happening now,” he diagnosed.

He emphasized that the failure to solve JSW's problems, also in the perspective of its long-term operation, may mean the lack of work and income for several dozen thousand people in the region. “And this is already a huge social problem, and if such a problem arises, there is no way the Left would not be there,” he said.

He also emphasized that he did not currently want to enter into talks between the unions, the company and MAP, because Deputy Minister Wrona is involved. “I am curious about the results of these talks. From what I know, within two or three days they should end either with the signing of an agreement or not,” he said.

When asked whether he would organize a discussion in the parliament in the event of no agreement, the Speaker of the Sejm confirmed this. “I think I even know which direction this discussion should take place after today's meeting. Before this discussion, I would probably come with specialists and invite specialists to it. I think that it will end with a big national discussion on this topic, as there should be,” concluded Włodzimierz Czarzasty.

Negotiations at JSW: Loan with cuts worth billions

The draft agreement on the temporary limitation of employee benefits, which would allow JSW to reduce employee costs, was presented to the social side by the management board at the end of December 2025. Unions have so far opposed it – despite the prolonged deep economic downturn and the resulting long-term decline in the company's revenues.

The draft provides that the agreement will temporarily suspend the application of the provisions of some currently applicable collective agreements with trade unions, and will also suspend the guarantees from the agreement of March 31, 2021 regarding working conditions (among others, 10-year employment and remuneration guarantees were agreed at that time).

The JSW Management Board emphasizes that in the company's crisis situation, concluding an agreement is a key condition for obtaining financing from state and private financial institutions.

According to trade unionists, the draft agreement means three years of reducing employees' incomes, weakening their protection and limiting benefits. Unions have calculated that the cuts in employee benefits expected by the management would amount to almost PLN 8 billion over three years.

Management Board's plan: Suspension of “fourteens” and deputies

The points of the draft agreement include the employer's declaration that it will make every effort to obtain the financing necessary for the further operation of the company by the end of February 2026, provided that its granting is dependent on the implementation of the restructuring plan, including the reduction of labor costs.

From acceptance and acceptance by relationships Reducing labor costs also depends on granting JSW a loan from the Reprivatization Fund in the amount of PLN 2.9 billion (which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Assets).

The project provides for a complete suspension of the 14th salary in the years 2025-2027, and the payment of the St. Barbara's Day award for 2026 limited to a maximum of 30%. and its absence in the years 2027-2028, as well as the entire suspension in the years 2026-2028 of: coal allowance, health and safety bonuses and allowances, tickets from the Miner's Card and more favorable rules for sickness and leave benefits.

MAP calls for silence

On Monday, the Deputy Minister of Assets, who participated in the talks, described them in an entry on the X website as “the final phase of negotiations with the social side.” He appealed to all parties to keep the negotiations confidential. “Preparing good solutions and concluding a wise compromise require silence and reflection, which alleviate tensions” – wrote Grzegorz Wrona.

After Monday's meeting, JSW announced that key issues regarding the company's future and possible directions of further actions were discussed and announced their continuation on Tuesday. “The parties have brought their positions closer in several important areas, emphasizing the common goal of ensuring a stable future of JSW, maintaining the continuity of its operations and job security,” the company announced on Monday evening.

The JSW Capital Group is a joint-stock company, the largest producer of high-quality coking coal in the EU and one of the leading producers of coke used to melt steel. The core business of the JSW group is the production and sale of coking coal as well as the production and sale of coke and carbon derivatives. JSW mines in four mines: Borynia-Zofiówka, Budryk, Knurów-Szczygłowice and Pniówek. JSW, listed on the Stock Exchange, is owned by the State Treasury in 55.16%.

JSW had a cumulative net loss of PLN 2.9 billion after three quarters of 2025. Sales revenues amounted to PLN 7 billion, and the EBITDA result was minus PLN 1.4 billion. In the third quarter alone, JSW generated PLN 2.3 billion in sales revenues, with a gross loss on sales of PLN 524 million. EBITDA excluding one-off events amounted to minus PLN 485 million, and the net loss was PLN 794 million. (PAP)

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