Sad Christmas at PG Silesia. Miners demand social protection, the government asks for time until January
The miners' protest in the Silesia mine in Czechowice continues for the fourth day. They demand, among others: being covered by social protections provided by the amended Mining Act. It did not cover this mine. The miners' spokesman, Kazimierz Grajcarek, said that there were 21 people underground.
Grajcarek added that another six people are protesting on the surface.
The spokesman recalled that on Wednesday, a representative of the Bumech Group, which owns Przedsiębiorstwo Górnicze Silesia, met with the miners and declared that the Minister of Energy, Miłosz Motyka, would “contact the protesters by phone.” – So far, nothing like that has happened – he pointed out.
The head of the National Secretariat of Mining and Energy of NSZZ Solidarność, Jarosław Grzesik, is to meet with miners on Thursday.
Miners' demands: equal rights and social protection
Miners from Silesia have been protesting since 6 a.m. on Monday. The unions argue that the action is grass-roots and not a strike.
The protesters are demanding, first of all, that the government cover their company with protective instruments that, from January 1, 2026, the amended Mining Act will provide to employees of companies with State Treasury shareholding that are closing down mines, and from the employer – payment of the entirety of this year's Saint's Day and no consequences for the protest.
On Tuesday, trade union leaders met with the court administrator who supervises the rehabilitation program implemented at the mine and a representative of the Bumech Group, the mine's owner. They received a verbal assurance from the manager that no consequences would be brought against those participating in the action. However, miners expect this in writing.
The minister asks for a break, and the miners demand specifics
On the same day, the Minister of Energy sent a letter in which he asked to suspend the protest action for the Christmas and New Year period and to return to talks after January 6. He assured that the ministry is intensively working on finding legislative solutions that would include the possibility of supporting the company's employees.
The minister's position was then criticized by the leader of NSZZ Solidarność in PG Silesia, Grzegorz Babij.
There cannot be a situation where the analysis has been going on for several months. The act has already been signed and they are still analyzing it. I ask, how long? Should I go down and show this piece of paper to the people downstairs? – he pointed.
A trade unionist demanded that Miłosz Motyka come to Silesia. He also expressed fear that such a message from the minister may result in the extension of the protest.
President Nawrocki intervenes. He sends “his people”
On Tuesday, presidential ministers Karol Rabenda and Mateusz Kotecki visited the protesters underground. – On my own behalf, but also on behalf of Mr. President, I wanted to ask the government to take action to clarify this matter and end it positively – Rabenda later appealed.
Referring to the amendment to the Act on the Operation of Hard Coal Mining, which will enter into force on January 1, 2026, which specifies, among others, protective instruments for employees of companies with State Treasury participation (this does not apply to Silesia, which is private), Rabenda recalled that when signing the act on December 15 this year, the president pointed out that it did not cover all miners in Poland and therefore did not treat them equally.
The President announced that we will submit an amendment to this act soon. I want to uphold this declaration of the president. We are working on it so that before the next session of the Sejm we can take the initiative to change this act to cover all miners – emphasized the minister.
Christmas Eve underground and on the surface
On Christmas Eve, the protesters were visited by the chairman of NSZZ Solidarność, Piotr Duda. He expressed support for them. He criticized the government. As he said, both Minister Motyka and the head of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, should be in Czechowice-Dziedzice and negotiate. He emphasized that the current government avoids social dialogue.
On Christmas Eve, at the Solidarity headquarters right next to the mine, priests held a Christmas Eve service for the miners' families. Originally, it was supposed to take place in the hall, but the mine owner did not agree to it.
The specter of layoffs in the mine
Przedsiębiorstwo Górnicze Silesia in Czechowice-Dziedzice is the largest private coal mine in Poland. Its share in the Polish market in 2022 was approximately 3%. in the production of thermal coal and 2.3 percent in total hard coal production.
At the end of November this year. The administrator of the Silesia restructuring estate notified the unions of the intention to make collective redundancies. They would apply to over 750 people working in Silesia.
The Bumech Group, the owner of the PG Silesia company that operates the mine, announced on December 8 this year that it had submitted an offer to lease the Silesia mine to the manager of the PG Silesia restructuring estate. Bumech also declared the takeover of selected employees in accordance with Art. 23(1) of the Labor Code. In this situation, the administrator of the restructuring estate postponed possible layoffs until January. (PAP)
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