15 trains were delayed yesterday till 1 p.m. Jointly, they were 470 minutes late. Problems started later when the 1.5 hour blockade made by railway trade unions in Warsaw stopped and trains could start their routes. PKP estimates that its losses may amount to a dozen thousands zloty. PKP PLK, PKP subsidiary operating railway infrastructure, and is responsible for providing available railways, may have to pay compensations for delays. PKP PLK says it will demand to be paid back such costs from the organizers of the blockade.
“The protest was illegal. We have already prepared suits for compensation”,
Krzysztof Lancucki, the company’s spokesman said.
Wieslaw Pelka, the head of
Solidarnosc trade union who took part in yesterday’s protest and is member of
PKP PLK supervisory board, will also be suited. Part of trade unionists who took
part in the protest are also member of the supervisory boards in other PKP
subsidiaries.
“This is not a protest against the employer but against the government”, Wieslaw Pelka explained.
In his opinion, the protest was legal. The law requires that organizers
inform the employer in advance if they plan a protest lasting not longer than
two hours. Railway workers demand to have their pension privileges sustained.
They let them retire after 15 years at the job. PKP estimates that earlier
retirement is available for 46,000 workers out of 120,000 people working at the
state-owned railway company.