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According to UNI Europa affiliate's NSZZ Solidarnosc, on 13^th June 2012 in front of the Auchan hypermarket in Polish Town of Mikołów (Southern Poland, Upper Silesia Province) unionists protested against sacking Deputy Chairman of the NSZZ „Solidarnosc” Union. Unionists blocked all the cash-desks in the hypermarket by paying lowest denomination coins for the shopping they’ve done.



- We are here to defend our sacked friend Aron Plewa. Some young people braved to establish The “Solidarnosc” trade union in this hypermarket. One of them was punished and fired by Auchan – said Alfred Bujara, chairman of “Solidarnosc” Commerce during the picket.



Alfred Bujara underlined that „Solidarnosc” Commerce cannot agree to sacking the employees only because they dared to establish trade unions. – In the 80. we fought for the possibility of establishing free unions. Today we have to fight again to enable Polish employees to establish unions. After 30 years we came back to the starting point. We have free market economy but unfortunately we have also anti-staff law and anti-staff employers’ activities. Commerce sector employers are mainly foreign investors who came to Poland to do business. They were given tax exemptions because they were to create good jobs for us. But later these jobs appeared to be exploitation and mobbing jobs – underlined Alfred Bujara.



Aron Plewa who was sacked for establishing the „Solidarnosc” Union in Mikołów Auchan explained that this Union was created to ask for improving working conditions in hypermarkets. – We wanted to influence employers’ activities in our workplace. The employer meanwhile decided to sack me before they met us and listened to us – said A. Plewa during the picket.



A few hours before bloking the cash-desks in Auchan in Mikolow unionists from NSZZ „Solidarnosc” Commerce met hypermarket’s management. – The employer informed us that they are not going to discuss restoring Aron to work and that they will wait till court’s sentence on this issue. In our opinion this sucking was absolutely illegal and we are sure that the Court will restore Aron to work. But the problem is that the law suit may last even several months which is known to the employer. – underlined Miroslaw Grzywa, member of regional NSZZ Solidarnosc board.



Several minutes after 4.00 p.m. unionists came into the shop with bags full of lowest denomination coins. Unionists from Auchan were supported by Colleagues from Solidarnosc of Piast, Chwałowice and Brzeszcze coal mines. – Each of us had to spend 25 zlotys (some 5 euros) in smallest coins. We were buying school articles which will be donated to an orphanage. I am afraid that the management of Auchan will not be delighted with today’s takings – said Sławomir Ciebiera.



While some unionists were blocking cash desks the others were distributing fliers to customers in which they informed them about the reasons of the protest and they apologized for difficulties. – We are sorry but our action is not aimed into the customers neither into the workers of the shop. But in the situation when the employer is illegally sacking somebody and they don’t want to discuss this issue we also have to apply radical measures. – explained Slawomir Ciebiera.



On the 18^th May the Mikolow Auchan employees informed the employer about establishing the „Solidarnosc” Union. On the very next day Aron Plewa was given notice of job. The case was given to the court. The Unionists are preparing to report this issue to the prosecutor.