Global campaign launched to end sackings and union busting at Polish port
A global campaign is being launched in support of Maciek Konopka and his colleagues at Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT) Gdansk as union-busting activity by management reaches new heights, ITF said in its press release.
Konopka has been sacked from his role at the terminal after 6 years of fixed term contracts, ostensibly because he is a visible and active member of ITF affiliate union NSZZ Solidarnosc.
Despite the growth of the union, management has repeatedly failed to adequately address members’ concerns over important issues including temporary contracts, pay, holiday working and meaningful negotiation. It also brought in a legal firm to handle negotiations with the union over a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that has ground progress to a halt. Members have reported intimidation and threats of dismissal, while nine other union activists have been forced to leave in addition to Konopka.
DCT in Gdansk has secured multi million Euro loans to build a second terminal with plans to expand their number of employees from 500 to 1500. Meanwhile many of the existing workers are on temporary, rolling contracts.