NSZZ Solidarnosc led action in Lidl shops across Poland
On 26th September 2013 unionists from Polish TU NSZZ „Solidarnosc” for more than two hours were blocking cash-desks in Lidl shops in Warsaw, Poland. Similar blockades were led in Katowice and Bia³ystok and lasted more than one hour. This way unionists were protesting against violating workers’ and unionist’ rights in this multinational. In other Polish cities like Poznañ and Koszalin pickets and happenings were organized.
During the protest unionists came to the cash-desks and paid for the chosen goods with gross little coins. Unionists chose sweets that were than given to an orphanage. Together with paying for a long time they were distributing leaflets to the customers in which people were informed about difficult situation of multinational’s workers. Unionists also apologized to the customers for the difficulties caused.
One of the most serious problems that Lidl workers have is work overload and lack of personnel during shifts. In a big shop there are five or six people who not only serve at cash-desks but they also have to serve the bakery, put the goods on shelves, receive goods and clean. It is too much work to perform for such a limited number of people. Most of Lidl Poland’s workers are employed under part-time fixed-term contracts. The employer doesn’t want a real social dialogue with workers’ representatives and demands the list of names of TU “Solidarnosc" members. The law is being bent in this case as according to the court’s judgment, it is sufficient to give the employer the number of people organised in the Union. This shows that Lidl wants to know who the “Solidarnosc” union members are, and who raised their voices in order to sack them.
Among demands presented by unionists during 26th September protests was the demand to enlarge the number of workers in Lidl shops. Unionists also required that the employer signed indefinite contracts and give a pay-rise to the workers that earn the least.
On 4th October 2013 in £ódŸ, central Poland, another blockade of cash desks was led. On that day unionists were also paying with little coins for the goods to draw people’s attention on the bad situation of Lidl workers in Poland.