The management of KGHM copper producer told the staff that there are plans to merge three mines: Rudna, Polkowice-Sieroszowice and Lubin. Since January, all of them become one entity. The management believe this is the only way for the company to survive when the situation on the copper market worsens. The changes will let coordinate investments, improve labor safety, implement unified employment policy and cut production costs.
“We don’t know yet how much the costs will fall but it may generate up to several millions of zloty of annual savings. And the savings won’t be achieved by laying off the miners. On the contrary, we need more workers because as many as 600 miners retire annually”, Herbert Wirth, KGHM deputy CEO said.
Trade unions were not convinced.
“We don’t agree. The management don’t provide us with exact estimates where and how they want to save money. We don’t believe that miners will not be adversely affected. After the merger, they will be sent to any place within the group”, Jozef Czyczerski, KGHM Solidarnosc head said.
Trade unions want the management to withdraw from the plans. They don’t exclude protests and even strikes.