Coal mine union chiefs abusing management powers

Jerzy Hausner the Economy Minister, has recently charged trade union coal members, which are to be liquidated, claiming that instead of taking care of things, which are under their charge and control, they are taking care of their own private businesses. In reply, Henryk Nakonieczny, the head of the Solidarity Union of the coal industry, demanded Hausner present a list of companies involved, of which the trade unions hold shares. Meanwhile Jacek Piechota, the Deputy Economy Minister, responsible for the coal sector has turned to the unions to hand over such a list. According to unofficial information 16 trade union organizations now control shares in various companies, some of which are recording revenues in the millions of zloty annually. Coal mine management have been encouraging the trade unions to form companies, which would take over employees and specialize in providing different types of services for the coal sector. "The trade union companies are also providing social benefits, in Kompania Węglowa alone it amounts to zł. 70 million. They also have shares in transport companies, which in turn for services, provide buses to the unions for any purpose," says a source close to the issue. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) A.K.