In December 2004, a conflict re-emerged at Poland's Budryk coal-mining company when trade unions alleged that management had not honoured commitments made in an agreement that had resolved a pay dispute in August. However, the renewed dispute ended when the parties reached a compromise.
In the context of debate over the government's draft state budget for 2005, Poland's Tripartite Commission for Social and Economic Affairs has been debating the level of the national minimum wage. The government has proposed a 3% increase in 2005, which is supported by employers but opposed by trade
In August 2004, the Polish Ministry of the State Treasury dismissed the director of the state-owned PŻM shipping company, Paweł Brzezicki. The decision led to a wave of protests by the PŻM workforce and trade unions, which believe that Mr Brzezicki is responsible for a recent tunraround in the
In August 2004, a deal was concluded to end a pay dispute at Poland's Budryk coal-mining company, following discussions in the Silesia Regional Social Dialogue Commission. The conflict had seen differences of opinion between various trade unions, a warning strike and threats of a full-stage stoppage
In July 2004, the Polish Ministry of the State Treasury proposed the creation of a 'golden share' mechanism, giving the state considerable influence over the activities of some privatised companies. Following criticism, the Ministry withdrew this plan and instead called for the government to have a
In July 2004, the Polish government dropped plans to subject the income of trade unions and employers' organisations to corporate income tax. The social partners welcomed the retention of their tax exemption.
In June 2004, NSZZ Solidarność trade union activists from the healthcare sector in Poland's Silesia region staged a protest at the headquarters of the National Health Fund (NFZ). The protesters claimed that the current system of financing healthcare is pushing medical institutions deeper into debt
In late May 2004, Poland's Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) held its 17th national congress. The main development was the adoption of new statutes, which notably provide for the creation of new structures at local level to bring together members in companies
New legislation means that from January 2005 the revenues of Polish trade unions and employers' organisations are to be subject to corporate income tax. The social partners have protested against this measure, but as of June 2004 without any success.
Poland’s petroleum industry in general, and the major enterprise PKN Orlen in particular, is undergoing restructuring and privatisation, if relatively slowly. April and May 2004 saw disputes and protests over planned job losses at PKN Orlen and management attempts to impose wage restraint.