The “Black T-Shirt Day” campaign was initiated by social welfare workers from Grudziądz. The reason? No pay rises. The Grudziądz protest developed into a nationwide campaign. As stated in a declaration by the Workplace Organization of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” operating at the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Bolesławiec, the initiative aims, among other things, to draw the attention of Labour Minister Jolanta Fedak to how difficult and responsible the work of social workers is, as well as to the level of their salaries. “The regulation on the remuneration of local-government employees means that local governments treat social welfare workers as […] category B,” the union members write.
According to MOPS employees, the director, Małgorzata Dłużyk, did not consent to displaying information about the protest at the centre. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, 26 August, the women came to work wearing black T-shirts bearing the words “Solidarity with Grudziądz.”
The rest of the declaration reads:
Employees of the Bolesławiec MOPS feel entitled to protest, especially since they have not only failed to receive pay rises, but have also still not been paid the indexation adjustment due to them, even though this benefit was paid in all other organizational units of the city of Bolesławiec. What is more, their bonuses were terminated without justification, thereby reducing their previous, already low salaries!
Although the MOPS director blames the trade unions established at the centre in response to this situation, it is obvious to everyone—the employees, the management, and even the Labour Court, whose opinion we sought—that these accusations are absurd.
Małgorzata Dłużyk did not find time for us.
(information from the Workplace Organization of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” at MOPS in Bolesławiec/ii)