Workers at Inowrocławskie Kopalnie Soli “Solino” in Poland are continuing a three-week hunger strike, even during Easter, demanding government action to secure the complex’s future.
Hunger Strike Enters Easter Weekend
Workers at Inowrocławskie Kopalnie Soli “Solino” continued their hunger strike throughout the Easter weekend, having begun the protest three weeks prior. The strikers are demanding decisions to ensure the future operation of the salt and soda complex in the Kujawy region.
Four Workers Currently on Hunger Strike
Jerzy Gawęda, Chairman of the NSZZ “Solidarność” Factory Committee, reported that four workers are currently participating in the hunger strike. They have replaced colleagues who had to end their participation due to deteriorating health.
Health Concerns and Hospitalizations
To date, 11 protesters have had to withdraw from the strike due to health concerns, with some spending several days in the hospital. One participant was hospitalized on Saturday, and Gawęda himself was briefly hospitalized after two weeks of fasting but has since returned to support the protesters.
Strike Launched with Appeal to Government
The hunger strike at IKS was announced by the NSZZ “Solidarność” Factory Committee on March 15th. Union representatives sent a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka, appealing for urgent action and a meeting.
Union Demands Include State Control and Investment
The union’s demands include state control over strategic assets related to soda and salt production, as well as storage systems. They also call for a government program for the Kujawy energy-salt complex, encompassing the development of the Łanięta, Lubień, and Damasławek deposits, the construction of a brine plant, and the establishment of a special purpose company to implement a salt-storage security program.
Government Dismisses Protest as Political
Deputy Minister of State Assets Grzegorz Wrona addressed the protesters’ demands on March 26th during a parliamentary session, stating that the actions of the union representatives “bear exclusively the hallmarks of a political basis.”
Orlen Strategy Does Not Foresee Restrictions
Wrona informed parliament that Orlen’s ownership strategies do not foresee any decisions that would restrict Solino’s operations, either in terms of storage or salt mining and management. He highlighted the completion of a key investment in 2024-2025 – the construction of brine pipelines connecting the Mogilno salt mine with the Góra mine, significantly increasing the operational capabilities of the cavern system and the efficiency of salt deposit utilization.
Regional Governor Assures No Bankruptcy or Layoffs
Kujawsko-Pomorski Voivode Michał Sztybel issued a statement indicating that, to his knowledge, no bankruptcy proceedings are underway or planned for IKS “Solino.” The company also does not anticipate any collective redundancies and has investment plans that will be communicated directly by Orlen.
Appeal for Protest to End
Sztybel appealed to the protesters to end their hunger strike, which he described as unacceptable pressure. He reaffirmed his commitment to convene a meeting of the Regional Social Dialogue Council within 72 hours of the protest’s conclusion, dedicated to IKS “Solino.”