Planned mass layoffs at PKP Cargo may threaten public interest and national defense capabilities, warns Poland’s Train Drivers Union (ZZM). In response, union representatives announced their intention to submit a notice to prosecutors alleging criminal actions by a company board member.
On June 6, PKP Cargo, currently undergoing restructuring, announced further collective layoffs that could impact up to 2,429 employees—up to 1,041 workers in 2025 and another 1,388 in 2026 across various professional groups. These layoffs are scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2026, with those planned for the current year set to conclude by the end of July.
“We Will Not Stand By and Watch Sabotage”
On Monday, the ZZM stated that the notification will specifically concern Sebastian Miller, a board member at PKP Cargo in restructuring, responsible for operational matters. According to the union, the announced layoffs, which include 839 train drivers, 232 rolling stock inspectors, and 169 maneuvering crew members, would “permanently limit the company’s operational capabilities,” potentially affecting the national transportation system and national security.
Izabela Skonieczna-Powałka, the restructuring administrator for PKP Cargo, explained in a statement released the same day that information about planned collective layoffs must be publicized before submitting the Restructuring Plan if layoffs are contemplated as part of the plan. “This does not mean the layoffs will necessarily occur in the shape initially presented. The provided information outlines the most pessimistic scenario for collective layoffs,” she clarified.
“We will not passively watch the sabotage unfolding before our eyes. PKP Cargo is not some random transportation company nor a toy for amateur managers! It is part of the country’s strategic infrastructure. With war ongoing beyond our eastern border and rising tensions across the region, destroying the company’s operational capacity is playing with national security. Our duty is to respond clearly, decisively, and immediately,” emphasized Leszek Miętek, president of the ZZM, as quoted in the statement.
The union argues the scale of job cuts lacks both economic and operational justification, warning of potentially “irreversible” consequences. Miętek highlighted that laying off 839 train drivers would eliminate one-third of all train drivers currently employed at PKP Cargo in restructuring.
Further Layoffs
Last Friday, the NSZZ Solidarność trade union at PKP Cargo announced it had written letters to President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding the planned layoffs, urging intervention to halt the reductions.
This marks the second time within a year that PKP Cargo has announced mass layoffs. Last July, the company’s management implemented group layoffs across its facilities and headquarters, resulting in a reduction of 3,665 employees. PKP Cargo currently employs approximately 10,000 individuals.
The PKP Cargo Group offers logistics services, combining rail, road, and sea transportation. It independently operates freight transport in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Hungary, Lithuania, and Slovenia. In July 2024, a court initiated restructuring proceedings for PKP Cargo. PKP Cargo, a publicly traded company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), currently employs around 10,000 workers. Its ownership structure includes PKP S.A. with a 33.01% share, Nationale-Nederlanden PTE S.A. managed funds holding 12.08%, and other shareholders holding 54.91%.