Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk has requested a formal inspection by the National Labor Inspectorate into ZUS due to the institution’s ongoing disputes with a trade union.
Government Intervention in Administrative Practices
Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk is taking action against potential irregularities within the public administration. She has officially submitted a request to the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) to conduct an audit at the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) regarding the questioned legality of a labor union.
The situation is unprecedented in recent Polish history. The ministry suggests that the ZUS board’s refusal to recognize the “Związkowa Alternatywa” union may constitute an illegal obstruction of trade union activities.
Origins of the Legal Dispute
The conflict has been ongoing for months. In early May, ZUS informed the Polish Press Agency that the “Związkowa Alternatywa” union lacked the legal standing to participate in wage negotiations or other collective labor discussions.
This stance follows an April ruling by the District Court in Wrocław, which dismissed an appeal filed by a former ZUS employee. The court determined that the individual could not claim protections reserved for union activists because there were no legal grounds for applying the Trade Union Act in this context.
Following the ruling, ZUS management stated that the formation of the union was flawed and that, according to the court, the organization was never legally established.
Accusations of Obstruction
The union alerted the Minister to the fact that the ZUS board is refusing to transfer membership dues. On May 20, Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk requested that the Chief Labor Inspector launch an investigation into the institution’s potential failure to comply with labor laws.
The Ministry clarified that the primary reasons for the audit request are the questioning of the union’s legal status and the withholding of membership contributions.
The union maintains that the Wrocław ruling is only one of many judicial decisions, claiming that other existing rulings indirectly or directly confirm the legality of their organization. The Minister emphasized that the rights of employees in public administration are equal to those in the private sector, which she has defended on numerous occasions.