Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – The stuff of Rema, the company modernizing blast furnaces for KGHM copper producer, will go on strike unless they receive higher wages.
97 percent of the employees of Rema which modernizes blast furnaces for KGHM, Poland’s listed copper producer, agreed for a strike. The three trade unions active in the company demand PLN 500 of wage increases. The employees of KGHM earn PLN 5,000 on average while Rema’s workers PLN 2,500. The modernization unit was split from KGHM in 1997.
„It is especially hard for the former Staff of KGHM. They feel they were harmed”, Jerzy Czarnecki, the head of the NSZZ Solidarnosc in HM Glogow said.
The trade unions have been fighting for higher remuneration since January.
Rema’s management have estimated that they would have to spend PLN 8m a year to meet the demands of the trade unions.
“We must compete on the market. I can’t imagine it if we meet the postulates of the staff. We win contracts in tenders and we must be competitive. In this sector, our employees have one of the highest wages in the region”, Jerzy Skrzypczak, Rema CEO said.
He still hopes to agree with the staff. Trade unions are meeting on May 31 to decide about the details of the strike.