Bad news from Tychy. Fiat Auto Poland is planning to eliminate the third shift at its factory. A total of 740 employees are expected to lose their jobs. Trade unions warn that this may be only the beginning of larger problems in Silesia.
Representatives of Fiat Auto Poland have informed trade unions of plans to launch a Voluntary Redundancy Program (VRP). The program is to cover 740 employees—effectively the entire third production shift.
According to Grzegorz Maślanka, head of the plant’s NSZZ Solidarność chapter, the VRP is most likely to start in March, although the detailed terms are not yet known.
As Maślanka emphasizes, the voluntary redundancy program announced by the employer will probably begin in March, but the details will be worked out during negotiations. Talks between the company and the unions are scheduled to start on March 14.
The plan involves eliminating the third shift, which in practice means a significant reduction in production at one of the region’s key automotive plants. Union representatives stress that the consequences of this decision will not be limited to the factory itself.
“If Fiat eliminates a shift and 740 employees leave, layoffs will also occur among companies cooperating with the plant. Thousands of jobs could be lost,” the head of Solidarność warns.
This is an important signal, as 56 companies operate around the Tychy plant, providing services ranging from logistics and maintenance to subcontracting. Any reduction in production therefore affects the entire local employment chain.
Currently, around 2,600 people work at the Fiat plant in Tychy. For the city and the region, it is one of the key employers, and any decision to cut jobs reverberates widely—not only among workers, but also within local governments and local businesses.