Railway Strike. PKP Cargo employees blocked the tracks

– We have received dramatic appeals for help from employees of PKP Cargo and PKP Cargotabor, who will be laid off en masse. Today we celebrate the 44th anniversary of the signing of the Jastrzębie Agreement. Instead of going to the ceremony in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, we decided to take part in this spontaneous protest. Support the people who need “Solidarity” the most today – said Dominik Kolorz, head of “S” Silesia-Dąbrowa after the start of the protest – as we can read on the website Solidarnosc.katowice.pl.

The protesters’ banners read: “Prime Minister, save the railway workers!” and “Do not dismiss railway workers from PKP Cargo and PKP Cargotabor”. According to the organizer, all possibilities for “normal” negotiations have been exhausted.

As we read, in the opinion of “Solidariedade”, the boards of directors of both companies are not willing to hold constructive conversations with employees, which could result in limiting the scale of dismissals.

Protest by railway workers in Katowice. Obstacles

A spokesman for PKP Intercity, quoted by TVN24.pl, said that the roads near the Katowice-Zawodzie station were blocked.

– We have implemented it on our trains detour to Katowice main station via Muchowiec. This means that there will be no traffic stoppage, but travel time will be longer – commented Maciej Dutkiewicz.

According to PAP, passengers at Koleje Śląskie should also expect difficulties. Spokesman Bartłomiej Wnuk said that some trains turned around at Chorzów Batory and Sosnowiec Główny stations. Others were diverted. Train tickets were temporarily accepted on buses and trams of the Metropolitan Transport Association.

Group layoffs at PKP Cargo

As we have reported, collective layoffs are underway at PKP Cargo and PKP Cargotabor. The company will lay off approximately 30% of its employees – 4,142 employees at PKP Cargo, and a maximum of 752 employees at PKP Cargotabor.

– The collective dismissals that we are forced to carry out are a result of the situation that PKP CARGO has faced in recent years. Poor management and bad business decisions have resulted in the loss of market share, contracts and competitiveness. The restructuring activities, including restructuring processes, are aimed at ensuring the financial stability of the Company and restoring it. The current board of directors is also focused on regaining the market and increasing the weight of transported goods, said Marcin Wojewódka, interim president of PKP Cargo.

Protests at PKP Cargo

There have already been protests over the layoffs and the company’s restructuring plan.

– We do not agree to save the company only at the expense of its employees. We will protest against mass layoffs and other employer actions. The picket in Katowice is just the beginning of our protest actions, said Jerzy Sośnierz, chairman of PKP Cargo Południowy Zakład Spółka Spółka, as quoted by Solidarity in Katowice at the end of July.

The protests took place in front of the headquarters of PKP Cargo factories.