Nationwide coal strike to begin in Poland 2/2

[ND-Dem]

Poland’s coal mining industry has ground to a halt, as miners plan to go on a nationwide strike on Monday February 2.

Unionised workers from the largest coal mining nation in Europe will strike in support of employees of JSW (Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa SA), the largest metallurgical coal producer in the European Union.

Talks between Polish unions and JSW have failed to reach agreement about company plans to scrap social benefits and the dismissal of union leaders,” World Coal reported...Polish unions have demanded the resignation of JSW’s management board.

http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/nationwide-coal-strike-to-begin-in-poland

Photos: Coal strike in Poland intensifies



http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/photo-gallery/2015/2/photos-coal-strike-in-poland-intensifies.html

Polish coal miners start hunger strike to protest wage cut, restructuring plan

Hundreds of coal miners in southern Poland have staged a sit-in while dozens of others started a hunger strike to protest their company's restructuring plan and to demand the chief executive be fired.

Tuesday's actions were undertaken by a section of the nearly 9,000 miners who have been on strike since Jan. 28 when Jastrzebie Coal Company's management announced a plan to improve its finances that meant a longer work week and fewer bonuses.

The striking miners, which represent about a third of the company's 26,000 employees, have demanded the dismissal of chief executive Jaroslaw Zagorowski, saying he is a poor manager.

Negotiations have broken down, which prompted the sit-in and hunger strike. Managers say the stoppage is adding to the company's precarious financial situation.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/10/polish-coal-miners-start-hunger-strike-to-protest-wage-cut-restructuring-plan/

Strikers return to work at Polish coking coal miner JSW

Workers at Europe's largest coking coal miner. Jastrzebska Spolka, Weglowa returned to work Monday after union leaders suspended a strike following a statement by the company's CEO that he would resign if they did so.

"Work has started at all the mines. We do not have signs of any problems," union spokesman Piotr Szereda told reporters.

Union leaders suspended the strike late Friday following an announcement by CEO Jaroslaw Zagorowski that he would submit his resignation to the company's supervisory board if workers returned to work Monday.

After the crews returned to work Zagorowski submitted his resignation to the board, which is due to meet on Tuesday to decide whether to accept it or not. JSW said the reason for Zagorowski's resignation was because his relations with the unions had become so poisonous.

On Friday union leaders reached an agreement with management on cost- cutting measures. Under the agreement half of the miners' annual bonus would be linked to the company's earnings.

This bonus would be abolished for administrative staff. A six-day working week would eventually be introduced and miners agreed to work on Saturdays to make up the shortfall in production caused by the strike. JSW said the measures would bring annual savings of Zloty 280 million ($76.4 million

http://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/warsaw/strikers-return-to-work-at-polish-coking-coal-26014012