Wednesday, July 22, 2015

In Bogdanka’s cooking. The miners threaten strike – Wyborcza.biz

So far, the Lublin mine shining example and relationships with the board of trade unionists were almost exemplary. But the idyll is coming to an end. Miners have enough savings and do not believe that the company is in so difficult situation.

– Added to us the information that the mine produces and sells exactly the same raw material, which in the past year – he says, “Election” one of the miners involved a rally. According to the union the company is not in such bad financial situation, how to present its authority. Meanwhile, according to the report Bogdanka sold on the stock exchange in the second quarter. Only 1.88 million tons against 2.1 million tons in the same period of 2014. Falling or mining. For the last three months Bogdanka produced 1.9 million tons to 2.02 million tons in the same period last year.

Coal in the world is cheap. Since April 2011. To May 2015. Its price has fallen by more than 50 percent. In May, prices for domestic power were at 198.69 zł per ton – about 5.4 percent. lower than in April.

– The situation on the Polish coal market is very difficult, which is associated with persistent oversupply of coal and aggressive pricing policy on the part subsidized by the government Coal Company – says Zbigniew Stopa, President of Lublin Bogdanka.

The Board is looking for savings

Lublin mine in April announced the need for a restructuring plan. Estimated sales opportunities this year to 8.5 million tonnes, well below production capacity, which amounts to 10.5-11 million tonnes.

– We intensive efforts to acquire additional coal customers – says president foot.

This year, Bogdanka also restricts investment to approx. 340 million zł per year between 2016-20. Looking to save even more by reducing working hours to five days a week. Then there are also organizational changes.

– There are necessary in the current situation is also limiting employment, which takes place through the planned retirement of workers who have acquired such rights, and not extending portion of the agreements concluded with workers employed Fixed-term. And it is this last point became a focus of inflammation in Bogdanka.

Miners to the storm

Wednesday miners protesting primarily against the planned dismissal of workers. Management is planning to renew contracts with a group of approx. 400 people employed on a temporary basis.

– added to which are approx. 350 miners who have acquired pension rights, but not everyone wants to walk away from the mine this year – adds our correspondent. Bogdanka currently employs about 4.9 thousand. employees. The Board of Bogdanka emphasizes that the situation on the coal market will be improved, the affected workers find employment again in the mine.

This page would also social to the company’s management has allocated an additional 7 million zł for the Social Fund, the so-called. vacation under the pear tree for employees. One of the demands is also signing as soon as possible as agreed in January this year of the Rules of social benefits. However, company bosses want to introduce a new collective labor agreement that was based to a greater extent on incentive bonuses dependent on performance. It could reduce labor costs.

The miners from Bogdanka also rebel against reducing the height of the average wage. Workers want rates to be maintained at the level of those of 2014., More than 7.3 thousand. zł gross per month. According to the restructuring plan salary is to be reduced by nearly 2 per cent., Or to the amount of 7211 zł.

– The pension will return to the state from 2013. What staff are aware of – emphasized in mid-June the president of the Lublin Coal. According feet was a one-time increase and depends on the financial results of the company. So if the situation deteriorated in the industry, employees must deal back the old rates.

will strike?

– In the current difficult market situation, we expect thermal coal from trade unions dialogue, cooperation and joint action to secure the company has gone through this difficult period – says CEO of Foot. The miners, however, accuse the board that talks with the union is not prepared.

– We are currently in a collective dispute with the employer. Miners say the strike is a last resort, but do not exclude that it happens. We are considering the possibility of holding a referendum strike in the coming days – tells us anonymously, one of the miners. The next meeting with the board of trade unionists Bogdanka is scheduled for July 29. Then the social side has to meet the assumptions of the current economic and technical plan for the year 2015.

Bogdanka was at the end of 2014. 16.6 percent. the market share of thermal coal in Poland and 24.9 percent. the market for coal sold to power plants. Despite its low coal prices, the situation is better than Silesian mines. In the quarter. Net earned 32.7 million zł. However, this is the result of nearly 48 percent. worse compared to the first quarter. 2014.

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