News

Krzysztof Zgoda, the Organising Director of Solidarnosc (Poland) was presented with the UNI Property Services' Solidarity Award last week in Berlin.



Krzysztof has led the union's campaign to organise security guards which began in 2006. With Krzysztof's visionary leadership and unrelenting determination, the union has gone from a handful of members spread throughout the country to over 5,000 members in key cities. The campaign faced the obstacles common to all organising in security: low pay and conditions, dispersed worksites, and fearful workers. There are many employers, most of them hostile to the campaign.



Under Krzysztof's leadership, the campaign remained strong when confronted with these challenges, committing the union to a new campaign methodology, overcoming skepticism from every corner, and maintaining the workers' determination to stick to a straight path until victory.



When the campaign began, there were no recognition agreements with employers - now the union has agreements with 6 of the 8 leading employers. None of these came easily- all were the result of strategic choices, persistence and worker involvement.

With the growth of the security industry around the world, many unions will look to Solidarnosc as an example of successful organising in an environment where the union does not already have a collective bargaining relationship with the employers. Solidarnosc continues to grow its active membership base and is positioned to make real changes in the lives of Polish workers.



Krzysztof received his award from last year's honouree, Eddy Stam of FNV Bondgenoten.



Congratulations Krzysztof !