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UNI Global Union, German and Polish Smurfit Kappa unions, protested in Berlin against the company´s anti-union policies in Poland.

The demonstration took place on March 1st in front of the RISI Eighteenth European Annual Conference, which featured CEOs of companies like Progroup, Sappi Fine Paper Europe, Stora Enso, Smurfit Kappa, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, UPM and SAP. Among them was Tony Smurfit, Chief Executive Officer of Smurfit Kappa Group.

ZZP Union President Sonta Czeslawa said, "The Smurfit Kappa Polish workers have the same rights as any other employee of the company around the world and should not be discriminated because they are Polish. Smurfit Kappa Poland management must understand that we are not second-class workers".

Union members distributed leaflets denouncing that Smurfit Kappa unilaterally ended its negotiations with the union, banned trade union literature from company facilities, refused to permit union representatives to report back their members and union leaders are being strictly monitored by supervisors.

Javier Carlés, Head of UNI Graphical & Packaging said, "UNI Global Union calls Tony Smurfit to intervene in Poland to ensure that Smurfit Kappa Poland follows the company´s code of conduct and remove all restrictions on trade union activities and return to the negotiating table. This is best for the company and its workers”.