Budryk Miners appeal for support!

Content

Budryk coal miners have been on strike since 17 December 2007 and
<a href="4955#appeal">appeal for your help</a>.
The miners are fighting for equal pay with other miners. 
Miners in Poland have for a 
long time been legally recognised as doing work
<a href="http://ks.sejm.gov.pl/proc3/ustawy/339_u.htm">"which is 
significantly harmful to one's health or onerous" (pl)</a> 
(many miners die in accidents or die young 
due to the long term health effects of mining).
They are compensated for this (with early retirement etc.), 
in line with the 
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_economics">participatory economics (parecon)</a>
principle of 
<a href="http://www.zmag.org/parecon/writings/qaremun.htm">"remuneration 
according to effort and sacrifice"</a>. Because the miners'
situation is in opposition to the official <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TINA">TINA 
(There Is No Alternative)</a> economic ideology,
successive post-communist governments 
have been doing their best to crush the miners.

In this case, the Budryk miners' state-owned mine is going to be
merged with a 
<a href="http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jastrz%C4%99bska_Sp%C3%B3%C5%82ka_W%C4%99glowa">larger state-owned group, JSW (pl),</a> one of the largest coal producers
in Europe. Despite the fact that the Budryk workers are extremely
efficient, they found out their salaries would be up to 200 euros less
per month than their colleagues at JSW.

The Board at Budryk announced on New Year's Day that it sent a letter
to the state security agency and the prosecutor's office about the
strikers. They claim that the strikers are causing financial losses
for the state treasury and have committed "crimes" during the strike.

 
As of Sun 20.01.2008, <a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/kolejni_gornicy_podejmuja_glodowke">150 Budryk miners are continuing their strike 700 metres below ground level</a> and 22 of them are hunger striking at 1000 metres below ground level.

Please show your solidarity with the striking miners by sending a
solidarity letter.

<ul>
<li>
APPEAL:
<a href="4955#appeal"> [1] (en)</a> | 
<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/appeal_by_the_strike_committee_at_budryk_mine">[2] (en)</a> |
<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/komitet_strajkowy_kwk_budryk_chcemy_rownego_traktowania">[3] (pl)</a>
</li>
<li>
LETTERS TO WRITE:
<a href="4955#letters">[1] (en)</a> |
<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/send_a_protest_letter_in_support_of_budryk_miners">[2] (en)</a>
</li>
<li>ATTAC:
A <a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/aktywista_attac_przeciw_strajkujacym_w_budryku">Polish 
ATTAC member (pl)</a> called for the State to 
<a href="http://www.wiadomosci24.pl/artykul/budryk_potrzebuje_pilnej_interwencji_panstwa_53868.html">urgently use its security 
forces to break the strike</a> and defend
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TINA">TINA:</a> protest to your 
<a href="http://attac.org">local ATTAC group</a> and ask them to support
the miners
</li>
<li>MORE INFO, UPDATES: 
<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net">Centre of Anarchist Information</a> |
<a href="http://zsp.net.pl">ZSP (Polish Syndicalists' Union - Związek Syndykalistów Polski)</a> 
</li>
</ul>

</blockquote>

<h3>Recommendation by the <a href="http://zsp.net.pl">ZSP (Polish Syndicalists' Union - Związek Syndykalistów Polski)</a></h3>

<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/appeal_by_the_strike_committee_at_budryk_mine">
by Czytelnik CIA, Sunday, 2007-12-30 22:42</a>

Dear Fellow-Workers and Comrades,

We would like to publish an appeal from the Strike Committee of the
Budryk Mine.

The miners have been on strike since December 17th and have been
spending their holidays in an occupation of the mine, often
accompanied by family and friends. The situation in a nutshell is
that, even though the mine is quite profitable and output per worker
is twice the average in Poland, the wages there are the lowest in the
industry. When the state decided that they wanted to merge this mine,
which is state-owned, with the JSW group of mines, also state-owned,
the workers were again reminded that their wages are lower than in the
rest of JSW mines. They want to receive equal wages like the workers
in the JSW mines.

The Board doesn't want to negotiate with them. The situation has been
going on for months. Now that the workers are on strike, they are not
entitled to wages, so their families are being hit hard – not a nice
present for the holidays. The strikers feel that the Board is intent
on breaking the strike economically, therefore the Strike Committee
decided to appeal for help. Please spread this appeal. If you need
any more information, would like to translate a solidarity letter into
Polish or need help understanding the bank details, please contact
warsaw at zsp.net.pl. Please put BUDRYK in the subject line.

<a href="http://zsp.net.pl">ZSP (Polish Syndicalists' Union - Związek Syndykalistów Polski)</a> Warsaw

<a name="appeal"> </a>
<h3>Appeal from the Strike Committee of the Budryk Mine</h3>

<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/komitet_strajkowy_kwk_budryk_chcemy_rownego_traktowania">by the Strike Committee</a> of KWK Budryk

A protest has been underway at the Budryk mine since December
13. Budryk belongs to the State Treasury. The protest started with a
hunger strike by six mine workers and was meant to force the Board of
the mine to start collective bargaining with the workers.

On December 14th the Board's spokesman said in a television interview
that the Board will not negotiate about pay increases with the workers
unless a strike is started. With this, the Board gave a clear signal
to the workers that calling a strike was the right way to start
discussions. At 6AM on December 17th the first shift at Budryk
decided unanimously to start a strike.

The reason for the strike are the economic and social issues which
make up the workers' collective demands.

In the state strategy for the mining sector for 2007-2015, it was
decided to merge Budryk into the structure of Jastrzebska Coal
Company (Jastrzębskiej Spółki Węglowej S.A – (JSW)). The workers were
presented with a draft agreement with the Board of JSW which would
form the basis of the merger. The workers of Budryk overwhelming
rejected this proposal twice in referenda because of the proposed
conditions of the agreement. Despite this, the Board of Budryk did not
want to bargain, which is not in accordance with the law. This
escalated the tension at the mine and led to the strike.

The owner of Budryk - the State Treasury - wants Budryk to be merged
with JSW but with conditions which are not acceptable to the Budryk
workers. They propose that the wages in Budryk will be the lowest of
all the mines in the JSW structure, even lower than at the mines which
(through no fault of the workers) are not profitable. The workers of
Budryk demand equal treatment for all the workers of JSW and do not
understand how they can be denied this.

Thanks to the independent media, the protest of the Budryk workers was
presented to the public and it was shown that the miners just wanted
to be treated equally.

Budryk made 45 million zloties profit in the first three quarters of
this year (12.5 million euros). This makes it the third best mine in
Poland. However, the miners at Budryk have the lowest wages in the
whole sector, despite a 100% increase in work efficiency. In Budryk
each worker produces 1400 tons of coal a year, which is twice as much
as the average (which is 700 tons a year). Such arguments make no
impression on the management of either company which means that the
strike goes on and the State Treasury is exposed to enormous losses.

We demand an increase in the average wage to the average level of
wages in JSW. The workers deserve this wage increase especially due
to the health and safety risks of the work.

We appeal to all miners and good-willed people to support our
protest. We also ask for financial help for the miners since the
management is trying to force the workers to abandon the strike by
putting off talks and putting an economic strain on the workers.

Budryk is the first mine that was built in an independent
Poland. There is a modern workforce there of 2430 people. Budryk has
been profitable for many years. In the first 9 months of 2007, the
mine had 45 million zloties profit which makes it one of the best
mines in the country. However we are not treated on a par with others in
our branch.

The Board has been avoiding talks with us for over 3 months. It has
been trying to dvide the workers and divert public attention from the
economic demands of the workers. Every day of the strike is costly for
the workers and their families since all strike days are unpaid. This
is a big problem for the families of striking miners and may even
risk forcing them to end the strike before any agreement is
reached. The Strike Committee unanimously decided to appeal to other
miners and good-willed people for support. All financial help will both
help the families of the striking workers and also allow the workers to
continue the strike.

The Strike Committee states that all miners should receive the same
average pay since they all work in equally dangerous conditions. As
workers of a state-owned mine, we shouldn't be paid only by output
because output often depends on some natural geological conditions.

In defense of our mine and the decent lives of our families, the
workers spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at the mine where we 
also spent New Year's Eve and New Years Day. In order that we all live
better in the future.

We appeal for support so that we can reach an agreement which will be
an agreement for all miners in Poland. Please don't allow our strike
to end in defeat.

We won't give up, but maybe our families and children will give in 
because of not having any money to live from. 
If they break us today, tomorrow they can break you.

To support the families of striking miners, please make payments to
the Ornotowice branch of the Oresko-Knurowski Bank Spółdzieczy. (in
Polish: Orzesko-Knurowski Bank Spółdzielczy oddział Ornontowice) The
<a href="http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1404">IBAN account number</a> (konto) is IBAN: PL23 8454 1053 2001 0041 5426 0001. Write
that it is for the Fund for the Families of Budryk Miners. (in Polish: 
Fundusz pomocy dla rodzin strajkujących górników Budryka. )

We're fighting for our rightful place and dignity as well as respect
for the heavy job of a MINER!!!

Together we're United and will Win

God's luck!

Strike Committee of KWK Budryk 
Ornontowice, December 29 2007

<a name="letters"> </a>
<h3>Sample letters to write</h3>

<a href="http://cia.bzzz.net/send_a_protest_letter_in_support_of_budryk_miners">Here are</a> some sample letters:

Choose one or write your own! Send to different recipients. Send
copies to warsaw at zsp.net.pl

<h4>TO THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY</h4>

LETTER ONE

<pre>
To Waldemar Pawlak, Minister of Economy
pl. Trzech Krzyży 3/5, 00-507 Warszawa, POLAND
mail@pawlak.pl
Online: 
</pre>
<a href="http://www.mg.gov.pl/English/Email/">http://www.mg.gov.pl/English/Email/</a>
<pre>
CC to: kp-psl@sejm.pl
fax (24) 235-24-22
CC to: fax.: (022) 694 17 73
</pre>

We are writing in support of the demands of the miners from Budryk
to receive pay equal to the miners from JSW EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!
There is no justification for such pay discrimination.

LETTER TWO

<pre>
To Waldemar Pawlak, Minister of Economy
pl. Trzech Krzyży 3/5, 00-507 Warszawa, POLAND
mail@pawlak.pl
Online:</pre> 
<a href="http://www.mg.gov.pl/English/Email/">http://www.mg.gov.pl/English/Email/</a>
<pre>
CC to: kp-psl@sejm.pl
fax (24) 235-24-22
CC to: fax.: (022) 694 17 73
</pre>

We have read about the case of the striking Budryk miners and totally
support their demands for equal pay. Their wages must be increased
immediately as such discrimination is a clear violation of their
rights to equal pay for their job.

LETTER THREE

<pre>
To Waldemar Pawlak, Minister of Economy
pl. Trzech Krzyży 3/5, 00-507 Warszawa, POLAND
mail@pawlak.pl
Online: </pre>
<a href="http://www.mg.gov.pl/English/Email/">http://www.mg.gov.pl/English/Email/</a>
<pre>
CC to: kp-psl@sejm.pl
fax (24) 235-24-22
CC to: fax.: (022) 694 17 73
</pre>

We are writing in solidarity with the workers who have been on
strike at the Budryk mine since Dec. 17th. All workers deserve equal
wages for equal work; this is usually guaranteed in all European
countries. Therefore, their demands are totally justified.


We demand that this discrimination be ended immediately.

<h4>TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE</h4>

LETTER ONE

<pre>
Jan Bury
Secretary of State
fax /+48 22/ 628-88-69
sek.ssjb@msp.gov.pl
</pre>

We are writing in solidarity with the workers who have been on
strike at the Budryk mine since Dec. 17th. All workers deserve equal
wages for equal work; this is usually guaranteed in all European
countries. Therefore, their demands are totally justified.

We demand that this discrimination be ended immediately.

LETTER TWO

<pre>
Jan Bury
Secretary of State
fax /+48 22/ 628-88-69
sek.ssjb@msp.gov.pl
</pre>

We are writing in support of the demands of the Budryk miners. They
deserve equal pay to their colleagues in JSW!

<h4>To the Minister of the State Treasury</h4>

<pre>
Aleksander Grad
fax /+48 22/ 628-19-14
minister@msp.gov.pl
</pre>

We are writing in solidarity with the workers who have been on strike
at the Budryk mine since Dec. 17th. All workers deserve equal wages
for equal work; this is usually guaranteed in all European
countries. Therefore, their demands are totally justified.

We demand that this discrimination be ended immediately.

<h4>To Mining Bureaucrats</h4>

<pre>
Mining Department
Director - Aleksandra Magaczewska
fax (+ 48 22) 693-40-32
</pre>

We are writing in solidarity with the workers who have been on
strike at the Budryk mine since Dec. 17th. All workers deserve equal
wages for equal work; this is usually guaranteed in all European
countries. Therefore, their demands are totally justified.


We demand that this discrimination be ended immediately.

<h4>To Budryk</h4>

<pre>
KWK Budryk S.A.
skrytka pocztowa 29
ul. Zamkowa 10
43-178 Ornontowice
POLAND
fax. (032) 235-51-17
</pre>

We are writing in solidarity with the workers who have been on strike
at the Budryk mine since Dec. 17th. All workers deserve equal wages
for equal work; this is usually guaranteed in all European
countries. Therefore, their demands are totally justified.

We demand that this discrimination be ended immediately.

LETTER ONE

<pre>
Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A.
ul. Armii Krajowej 56
44-330 Jastrzębie Zdrój
POLAND
Fax: 032 47 62 671
e-mail: jsw@jsw.pl
</pre>

We are writing in solidarity with the workers who have been on
strike at the Budryk mine since Dec. 17th. All workers deserve equal
wages for equal work; this is usually guaranteed in all European
countries. Therefore, their demands are totally justified.

We demand that this discrimination be ended immediately.

LETTER TWO

<pre>
Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A.
ul. Armii Krajowej 56
44-330 Jastrzębie Zdrój
POLAND
Fax: 032 47 62 671
e-mail: jsw@jsw.pl
</pre>

We are writing in support of the demands of the miners from Budryk to
receive pay equal to the miners from JSW EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! There
is no justification for such pay discrimination.

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