The Workers' Initiative (IP – Inicjatywa Pracownicza) section at the Jeremias chimney systems factory in Gniezno (Poland) has been on strike since the 3th of June. The workers’ demands are: 

• 800 PLN (around 200 EUR) wage increase, 
• extension of the break to 30 minutes, 
• reduction of the pay period to one month and the restoration of fair bonuses.

In an attempt to put the strike down, the company has used prisoners’ forced labour, it hired an American legal company known for its union busting practices, fired union members and social labour inspectors, declared the union's demands and the strike illegal. It keeps intimidating and criminalising the strikers. It negates court decisions, labour inspections, and the legal expertise of the Polish Ministry of Labour. Now Jeremias is trying to take the strikers by hunger by consistently refusing to meet their demands and to negotiate despite a month of an ongoing strike.

Against all odds, the striking workers have continued their struggle, both at the workplace and outside of it, for more than a month. On the 18th of June, an extraordinary session of the Gniezno city council was held about the strike at the Jeremias factory. The strikers present there demanded that the Gniezno city council induce the management of the German company to reach an agreement. On 23 June, the striking unionists travelled to Warsaw and held a protest in front of the German embassy. The strike is the result of poor working conditions, union busting and violations of workers' rights by this German company, said one of the striking workers.

On 25 June, a spontaneous supply blockade was held outside the factory, supported by the local residents. Strike supporters blocked the entrances and exits of trucks in front of the Jeremias plant. No trucks were allowed in or out. Gniezno residents spontaneously joined the blockade of deliveries. During this time, strikers gathered to talk to workers hesitant and intimidated by false messages about the illegality of the strike. 

Support the strikers!

According to Polish law, workers do not receive wages for the days of strike (unless the management agrees to provide them during final negotiations). Low pay checks do not allow them to support families during the strike. Our union is still small, and its funds are based on contributions paid by workers who very often also earn the minimum wage. 

Therefore, if you have the opportunity, we ask you to enable us to continue our struggle by contributing any amount to the fundraiser: www.zrzutka.pl/m2xrgk.

If you encounter any problem with transferring money through this site, contact us at Ten adres pocztowy jest chroniony przed spamowaniem. Aby go zobaczyć, konieczne jest włączenie w przeglądarce obsługi JavaScript., or you can also send it directly to our bank account (describing the transfer as “support for Jeremias strike”).