The open letter, signed by Transport i Logistyka Polska (TLP) and NSZZ Solidarność, begins by openly addressing the Agmaz saga, which both parties warn has “reinforced stereotypes harmful to Polish industry”.
The signatories also question why the results of checks conducted on Agmaz by the labour inspectorate have not yet been made public.
However, the main focus of the letter to the PM was to call for action against rogue hauliers who push drivers, often from 3rd-countries, into signing zero-hours contracts with little labour rights – despite the fact their hours are easily enough to justify a full-time work contract.
“No solutions have been proposed that would increase the legal protection of employees employed on the basis of zero-hours contracts, and in particular would penalize persistent or malicious violations of their rights on principles analogous to those set out in the provisions of the Penal Code for crimes against employees,” reads the letter.
The signatories added:
“In light of this situation, we expect the Polish government to take urgent action to effectively prevent similar situations, and to quickly eliminate persons and entities violating labor rights (regardless of the type of contract under which they perform work) from economic activity.”
Describing the union’s motives for clamping down on rogue hauliers, even if their drivers are not union members, NSZZ Solidarność representative Tadeusz Kucharski told the Polish press:
“Sometimes I hear questions as to why Solidarity [NSZZ Solidarność] is involved in this matter, since the drivers driving for Mr. Mazur’s companies are not its members, neither are they even Poles. The answer is simple. They are also people, employees, and the fact that they are not members of the Solidarity union – because they have not yet organized themselves – does not mean that they can be treated as third-class people and be left without help. This way of running a company also translates into employment relationships in other entities, which directly affects Polish drivers, including members of Solidarity, concludes Tadeusz Kucharski.”