25.11.2009: Cegielski - end of the collective dispute. Workers' activists could return to work
- Dział: English news
After an agreement was signed on November 25, 2009, by the Workers' Initiative (IP) and HCP SA (the owner of the Cegielski factory) the collective dispute ended, and the five IP-activists, who had been illegally fired earlier, could return to work. HCP SA also recognized the union protection for the five activists. The Workers' Initiative agreed to suspend protests while the management promised not to make further redundancies.The five IP-activists were fired mid-October 2009, just a few days after IP had informed the employer that the union had got the support of enough factory workers so it can represent them, and that IP had chosen next workers as representatives so they are protected by the Union Law. All fired workers were also members of the strike committee established by IP during the industrial dispute that started in August 2009.
As a result of the IP-protests some of the workers' demands are now met, for instance, regular wages are paid to the workers for the work stoppage time in accordance with the Labour Code (before the employer had signed individual agreements with employees which is illegal). What is more, the employer can not reduce wages in 2009. IP fought to push through the same agreement for 2010, but the management refused, stating that the shipping industry was in a difficult situation and it was impossible to say what will happen next year.