Biedronka – the threat of strike. Will they close the stores? We have a business comment

A collective dispute between Biedronka and Solidarność has been going on since August. The next meeting was not supposed to make a breakthrough and the union announced that it was ready to protest. Does this mean that Biedronka stores can be closed? The company responds by expressing the hope of continuing the dialogue.

The fifth meeting of trade unionists with the management of the network only resulted in the drafting of a protocol of divergence.

– We do not see the willingness to reach an agreement from the council. We feel that our arguments are not taken into account at all. We hear only "no" – said Piotr Adamczak, president of Solidarność, during an interview with "Gazeta Prawna". – We are preparing to start a referendum on the strike, that is to say the initiation of an action during which the employees will not perform their duties. For this to happen, half of the employees must accept, "added Adamczak.

The union is ready to take more decisive action, in the hope of convincing the board of directors to cooperate at the end of the collective dispute.

What are the employees asking for?

Employees in Biedronka point out that they are not interested in salary increases. They only want changes to the bonus system making the premium dependent on the absence of sick leave and the requested leave on a given month. In addition, trade unionists are demanding an increase in employment, a reduction in the number of employee multitasking tasks and the creation of a separate storekeeper position in the stores. They also propose to improve the working conditions by equipping the stores with additional electric forklift trucks, air conditioning equipment or by providing constant protection in the evening.

Position of Biedronka

The closing of Biedronka stores is unlikely. The company hopes that an agreement will be reached at the next stage of discussions.

– For many years we have been conducting an open dialogue with all the unions active in the company. Arkadiusz Mierzwa, Head of Communications for Jeronimo Martins Polska S.A., writes Arkadiusz Mierzwa, Head of Corporate Communications for Jeronimo Martins Polska S.A., in the message we received.

He also points out that the solidarity trade union represents only 2.5%. employees of the company.

– Of the four trade union organizations operating in our company, one of them had a collective dispute with an employer – NSZZ "Solidarność" – accounting for about 2.5% of employees. Despite the lack of agreement at this stage, we hope to continue the dialogue – adds Mierzwa.