Today, a demonstration of several hundred people took place in front of the Silesia coal mine building in Czechowice-Dziedzice. The protesters demanded the reinstatement of dismissed employees and respect for the December agreement. – “Miners were deceitfully cheated by their employer,” said Grzegorz Babij, head of the plant-level Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) union.
Protest Outside the Silesia Mine
At the end of December, miners from PG “Silesia” staged a protest – they spent eight days underground during the Christmas holidays. They demanded the protection of jobs in the face of announced layoffs. On December 29, an agreement was signed with the government and the mine owner.
In it, the employer declared readiness to lease part of the enterprise and to take over all employees pursuant to Article 231 of the Labour Code, as well as to refrain from issuing notices of termination, provided the lease went ahead.
Shortly afterward, Grzegorz Babij, head of the plant-level Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) union, reported that some unions had concluded a different agreement, which no longer included a provision on taking over all employees. As a result, termination notices began to be issued, and Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) declared a strike alert at the plant.
Today, a demonstration was organized in front of the mine building in Czechowice-Dziedzice, attended by several hundred people. In a conversation with TV Republika, Grzegorz Babij emphasized that “the goal of the protest is very simple: the reinstatement of all employees who were dismissed by being given termination notices and respect for the agreement concluded on December 29, 2025.”
“I would like to remind you that this agreement ended the miners’ eight-day underground protest. Unfortunately, as you know, the miners were deceitfully cheated by their employer,” he announced.
Babij also commented on the government’s actions in this matter.
“We have already spoken with ministers twice about this situation. Two meetings have taken place. We expect a more concrete decision from the ministry toward those who are violating this agreement. Another meeting is scheduled for February 13. The ministry says it is a mediator – I believe it is also a party to this agreement. We expect stronger moves toward those who are brutally and shamelessly breaking this agreement. There is something worth fighting for. Poland stands on coal. Let us take care of it and do everything to ensure that mines continue to operate,” he stressed.