The word “boor” was used by Urszula Frąszczak-Matyjewicz, chair of the “Employees and Cultural Institutions of Bolesławiec County” trade union operating at BOK-MCC. She claims that she was provoked during the negotiations by the behavior of Bogusław Wojtas and that is why she called him that.
“From the beginning of the negotiations, I had the impression that this was not about reconciliation talks. Mr. Wojtas was impudent and aggressive toward the negotiating team throughout the meeting,” explains Urszula Frąszczak-Matyjewicz. “I am not a party to the dispute between the Solidarność employees and the employer. I was invited to the negotiations because they concerned the institution and employees who belong to the other, combative union. Mr. Wojtas was unprepared, kept looking for documents, did not give substantive answers to questions, and right at the start made a scene about replacing the coffee table in the director’s office. He waved his hands and demanded a proper table on which to spread out his documents, and suggested other rooms for the negotiations, claiming that he knew perfectly well which rooms were available at BOK-MCC, as if it were his institution. Eventually, a suitable table was brought in, which he accepted. The talks began in this atmosphere. Mr. Wojtas was unable or unwilling to answer my questions, and in my opinion it was dismissive, unpleasant and malicious. Eventually, I lost my composure and, quite calmly and without being emotional, said to him, ‘You are a boor.’ Then he clapped his hands and, smiling, said that he would tell the media how I had called him. I realized that I had allowed myself to be provoked, which affected me deeply, because it is unacceptable to call someone that, and I am not proud of it,” the union chairwoman adds.
Urszula Frąszczak-Matyjewicz wanted to apologize to Bogusław Wojtas in person a few days later, when she met him in the street. Unfortunately, to her surprise, as soon as the man noticed her, he turned the other way and quickly walked off. This is what Urszula Frąszczak-Matyjewicz claims.
“Mrs. Urszula was sitting at the meeting and suddenly, out of nowhere, blurted out, ‘You are a boor.’ If I did not care about reaching an agreement, I would have done what I usually do when someone insults another person. I should have ended the meeting. But I care too much, so I did not do that. Since February 12, I have been in Bolesławiec once or twice; Mrs. Urszula probably could not have seen me,” claims Bogusław Wojtas.
“If she had met me and apologized, believe me, I would have accepted the apology and would not have demanded an apology from Mrs. Frąszczak through the BOK-MCC director,” Bogusław Wojtas adds.
The next negotiating meeting will take place this Thursday, March 12.