Dispute over trade union rights in soap manufacturer - 0 views
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manufacturer of household cleaning and detergent products
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employs about 240 workers, of whom over 150 are union members
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the enterprise has a relatively high union density
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A dispute has arisen within PZ Cussons Polska S.A. between the largest representative trade union, NSZZ Solidarnosc, and the company’s chief executive officer (CEO)
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50% of the workers are trade union members
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five trade union organisations
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membership is widely dispersed
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Independent Trade Union of Chemical Workers
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representing 15 workers
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smallest union
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largest union
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Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity
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over 80 workers
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controversy has a long history
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2002 when a dispute arose over certain irregularities concerning the allocation of the employee benefits fund
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trade unions only took collective action in relation to the dispute in 2003 when the premises was flagged;
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ade union flag
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management removed the t
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trade unions appealed to the court
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company’s management of obstructing trade union activity.
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conflict escalated
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company’s management decided to move the headquarters of the trade unions to space outside the premises
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The unions once again appealed to the court to reverse this decision, but the court again dismissed the appeal
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staged a protest
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culminating point in the conflict occurred in June 2006
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according to the unions
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at CZ Cussons once again disregarded the preliminary social fund expenditures schedule.
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remove the flags and transport them outside the company’s premises
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A scuffle between the union activist and the security staff ensued, resulting in minor injuries to the former, according to trade union sources.
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NSZZ Solidarnosc shop steward was dismissed from the company on disciplinary grounds.
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not able to appeal against the decision within a statutory time frame.
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management also tried to prevent the next union meeting from taking place and attempted to keep the dismissed union member off the premises
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The trade unions claimed that PZ Cussons had clearly ignored Polish union law
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The unions warn that they will fight the case until the company’s management reinstates the dismissed trade union member.
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caused a dangerous situation and broke work regulations in his protest against the removal of the trade union flags from the premises.
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car without permission
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As this represented a gross abuse of an employee’s duties, the management agreed to the shop steward’s disciplinary dismissal. The case has since been sent to the labour court.
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An example of a trade union dispute in a household cleaning and detergent manufacturer. Explains how the dispute came about as well as how it was resolved.
