Miners: We will not leave without the minister. Motyka suggests meeting after Epiphany

Minister of Energy Miłosz Motyka, in a letter to protesting miners from the Silesia mine in Czechowice, declared his readiness to support social dialogue and resolve the dispute. I propose a meeting on January 7 in Katowice. Trade unionists demand his arrival to Czechowice-Dziedzice.

“The Ministry of Energy, guided by the well-being of the employees of the PG Silesia mine, in particular miners, declares its readiness to support social dialogue and participate in talks regarding the ongoing dispute. Therefore, we invite employees of PG Silesia and representatives of the mine's trade unions to participate in the meeting of the Tripartite Industry Team for the Social Security of Miners, which is planned for January 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Silesian Office Provincial in Katowice,” reads the letter signed by Minister Motyka, which the protesters received on Thursday.

The head of Solidarity comments: This is an embarrassment

The chairman of NSZZ Solidarność, Piotr Duda, wrote on the X website that Minister Motyka “he laughs in the face of the miners from PG Silesia“.

“After the embarrassment that has taken place in recent days, there is only one solution for him – he should immediately resign. This man is not fit to perform the function that has been entrusted to him,” he pointed out.

He added that “in the absence of any response to the demands, the miners continue their protest and declare that they will stay underground until the end.”

Duda also published a position signed by trade union leaders in Silesia. They indicated that only the arrival of Miłosz Motyka to Silesia and a conversation with the crew's representatives could lead to an end to the protest.

List of demands: work, law and St. Barbara's Day

The trade unionists proposed the terms of the agreement. The Ministry of Energy is to guarantee Silesia employees – in the event of bankruptcy, liquidation or the employee's decision – an allocation for the nearest mine to their place of residence. They also demand that the ministry introduce an amendment to the mining act to the Sejm, which will cover Silesia employees. The amendment should be adopted by the end of January next year.

They are demanding written guarantees from the owner, i.e. the Bumech Group, as well as from the court administrator that no consequences will be brought against the protesters, setting a date for the payment of the St. Barbara's Day award, as well as appointing a team whose aim will be to improve safety related to the low occupancy of workplaces.

On Monday, the council of the hard coal mining section of NSZZ Solidarność will meet in the mine.

Holidays underground and the specter of layoffs

The workers' protest at the Silesia mine continues for the fourth day. There are about 20 people underground and a few on the surface. The action is not a strike. Mining was carried out. We are currently on Christmas break. After that, mining will be resumed.

The miners are opposed to the layoffs announced by the mine's owner, the Bumech Group. They demand payment of this year's St. Barbara's Day in full and no consequences for the protest. They also demand that their company be covered by protective instruments that, from January 1, 2026, the amended Mining Act will provide to employees of companies with State Treasury shareholding who are closing down mines. It did not cover their mine.

On Tuesday, trade union leaders met with the court administrator who supervises the rehabilitation program implemented at the mine and a representative of Bumech. They only received an assurance from the manager that no consequences would be brought against those participating in the action.

On the same day, Minister Motyka asked the protesters to suspend their actions 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. This position of the minister was 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,” he pointed out.

Presidential ministers in the mine

Also on Tuesday, presidential ministers Karol Rabenda and Mateusz Kotecki visited the protesters underground. Rabenda, referring to the amendment to the Act on the Operation of Hard Coal Mining, which is to 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 – PAP) he recalled that by signing the act on December 15 this year. the president pointed out that it does not cover all miners in Poland and therefore does not treat them equally. An amendment to the act is to be submitted “soon”.

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, the manager of the Silesia restructuring estate notified the unions of its intention to make group layoffs. They would affect over 750 people.

The Bumech Group, the owner of the PG Silesia company that operates the mine, announced on December 8 that it had submitted an offer to lease the mine to the manager of the PG Silesia restructuring estate. Bumech 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)

szf/ drag/ pr/