PM Kopacz to meet unionists over striking miners
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
12.01.2015 10:10
Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz is due to meet trade unionists on Monday afternoon in Katowice, as coal miners continue to strike in Silesia over a restructuring plan that is set to close four mines.
Protesters at a Kompania Weglowa mine in Breszcze, one of the four mines facing closure as a result of restructuring plans backed by the government. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk
Unionists had broken off talks with government representatives on Sunday afternoon, after one delegate apparently referred to them as ''clowns.''
An apology was made, but the unionists said that talks would only be resumed if Prime Minister Kopacz, who was in Paris on Sunday for a march of solidarity following the Charlie Hebdo shootings – attended in person.
State-owned coal mining firm Kompania Weglowa has been recording vast losses in recent times.
In mid-September, the then-CEO of the company Miroslaw Taras stated that only three out of the firm's 14 mines were profitable.
In the first half of 2014, the company recorded a net loss of 342.7 million zloty (81.8 million euro) compared to 228.7 million zloty (54.6 million) in losses a year earlier.
On Wednesday 7 January, the government approved a plan that would see the closure of four Silesian mines. Delegates have said that a maximum of 3000 employees will lose their jobs.
The government claims that if the plans are not realised, the company will go bankrupt, leaving 50,000 unemployed.
Some 3000 miners have taken part in the strikes thus far at the four relevant mines, including over 500 employees underground at the Bobrek-Centrum mine near Bytom. Unionists have threatened additional strikes at other mines. (nh)
Source: PAP