Mining crisis: no breakthrough

Polish miners rejected the offer made by Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz. The long meeting ended without any consensus, but  Kopacz assured public opinion that the offer remains open. The strike will expand to all of the Silesia mines, Solidarity informed later on Monday. According to the government’s offer, four of the least profitable mines would prepare restructuring plans so that they could be incorporated into Spółka Restrukturyzacji Kopalń. Under the original plan, these mines would be closed. The labor unions did not accept the terms demanding long-term guarantees. Both sides declared readiness for further talks. PM Kopacz did not comment on recent news of an investor interested in buying three of four plants.The talks started on Monday afternoon and lasted 12 hours. Under the government’s plan for restructuring the Polish mining industry, Kompania Węglowa, the biggest mining company in Poland will be divided. Some of the mines are to be incorporated into Spółka Restrukturyzacji Kopalń (a company designed to implement restructuring process). Other companies will become a part of a special purpose entity established by Węglokoks. The rest of the assets are to be sold or liquidated, the government informed. As much as 6,000 employees are to be transferred and around 5,200 people will lose their jobs.