Trade unions active at the Opel [1] plant in Poland’s south-central city of Gliwice have entered a collective dispute with the employer. Ironically, the cause of the dispute is related to the plant’s highly favourable financial results, which are the best so far in its eight-year history.[1] http://www.opel.com.pl/site/index.html
Employees at Opel’s Gliwice plant in south-central Poland are among the best-paid workers in the country’s automotive industry. Nevertheless, the trade unions active at the plant consider that, in light of the company’s current financial status and the workforce’s commitment to its success, the remuneration terms drawn up three years ago are no longer appropriate. As a result, the trade unions are demanding a bonus for employees, threatening strike action if their demands are not met.
Trade unions active at the Opel plant in Poland’s south-central city of Gliwice have entered a collective dispute with the employer. Ironically, the cause of the dispute is related to the plant’s highly favourable financial results, which are the best so far in its eight-year history.
Trade union position
The trade unions contend that, given the company’s favourable financial position, employees should be allowed to reap some of the fruits of the plant’s success. As the chair of the factory’s branch of the Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy Solidarność, NSZZ Solidarność) argued:
During this time, the employees had to shoulder the burden of developing the plant. They agreed to a freeze in real wages and to reducing the pay of new hires. We knew that this was all aimed at improving the international competitiveness of our factory,
The NSZZ chair added that the company’s current economic status justified the unions’ demands and the proposed bonus for employees. In relation to the latter, the trade unions decided to replace their range of pay demands with a single, straightforward demand for a monthly bonus for all employees. This would, in turn, allow for an increase in workers’ wages without necessitating an amendment to the pay agreement currently in force, and as agreed in 2004.
The trade union activists believe that such a bonus would boost the morale of the workforce, enabling the company to recapture the commitment and satisfaction that had been achieved several years ago, as well as adhering to the General Motors Global Production System motto, that ‘the company treasures its employees as its most valuable assets’.
Threat of strike action
The possibility of a strike at Opel is now a distinct possibility. The trade unions believe that the employer is avoiding open dialogue, engaging instead in a continuous exchange of written correspondence.
Conversely, the directors of the Gliwice plant take the position that, as the present company agreement will remain in force until the end of 2007, there is no reason to commence negotiations before late September or early October 2007.
Rafał Towalski, Institute of Public Affairs (ISP)
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2007), Workers at Opel threaten strike action for pay increase, article.
