On March 4, 2026, the Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” sent the istotne.pl editorial office an official position regarding employee problems at Zakłady Ceramiczne “Bolesławiec” (ZCB).

The main allegations concern the unlawful dismissal of trade union organization chairwoman Agata Rusiecka and the lack of dialogue on wage-related matters.

“In our opinion, the dismissal was groundless, given that under the Trade Union Act, the chairwoman of a trade union organization is covered by special protection, and the pretext used by the employer for the dismissal had no formal or legal basis,” NSZZ “Solidarity” chairman Franciszek Kopeć wrote to the istotne.pl editorial office. “The management’s decision to terminate the collective labor agreement, as well as the lack of dialogue and agreement on the employer’s part regarding the establishment of remuneration and work regulations, is also viewed negatively,” the chairman added.

Intimidating employees and introducing censorship

The chairman also referred to our articles about ZCB.

“The Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” took action to learn about the problems of employees at Zakłady Ceramiczne “BOLESŁAWIEC,” Kopeć wrote. “The information contained in the articles (on istotne.pl – ed.) is shocking, pointing to drastic actions involving the intimidation of employees, the introduction of a kind of censorship, gagging freedom of expression, and restricting the right to assess the management’s conduct,” the trade unionist added.

The Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” declared its full support for the dismissed chairwoman and its readiness to take legal and social action to defend employee rights and restore dialogue within the company.

It was also emphasized that the organization would seek to develop new, fair remuneration and work regulations that would take employees’ interests and employment stability into account. The trade unionists also announced social and legal activity aimed at defending employees and maintaining dialogue within the company.

President Grzesiowski’s narrative in the statement is falling apart

President Arkadiusz Grzesikowski disputed articles published on istotne.pl in a company statement. He published his statement on another commercial portal, which described it as a “commissioned text.” It was in this text, the cost of which Grzesikowski did not disclose, that ZCB’s management presented its interpretation of what is happening at ZCB.

In the management’s view, the trade unionists’ fight for employee rights was supposedly “an attempt to create a media commotion by a group of activists from one of the trade union organizations.” Grzesikowski and Huczyński stated that, in their opinion, it was untrue that the management “had been in conflict with all the trade union organizations operating in the Company”. In their view, as they emphasized in the statement, NSZZ “Solidarity” had not supported the trade union organization’s position and had adopted a neutral stance.

In light of what the chairman of the Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” stated, it is clear how strongly Arkadiusz Grzesikowski and Wojciech Huczyński tried to present their narrative to the public.

Intervention by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship OPZZ Council

The Lower Silesian Voivodeship OPZZ Council is also intervening over the lack of regulated employee payment rules following the termination of the previous collective agreement. The trade unionists warn that, despite the statutory requirement, the employer has still not introduced new remuneration regulations.

The organization emphasizes that companies employing at least 50 people have an absolute obligation to possess such an internal legal act. If the inactivity continues, the Council announces that it will notify supervisory authorities, such as the Labor Inspectorate. In a letter dated March 3, 2026, it also calls on president Arkadiusz Grzesiowski to immediately establish, agree on and introduce remuneration regulations.

NSZZ “Solidarity” letter

After receiving an email from your portal, the Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” took action to learn about the problems of employees at Zakłady Ceramiczne “BOLESŁAWIEC.”

The information obtained indicates that the trade union organizations negatively assess the Company Management Board’s decision to dismiss the chairwoman of the Trade Union Organization of Employees of Zakłady Ceramiczne “BOLESŁAWIEC.”

In our opinion, the dismissal was groundless, given that under the Trade Union Act, the chairwoman of a trade union organization is covered by special protection, and the pretext used by the employer for the dismissal had no formal or legal basis.

The Management Board’s decision to terminate the collective labor agreement, as well as the lack of dialogue and agreement on the employer’s part regarding the establishment of remuneration and work regulations, is also viewed negatively.

The information contained in your articles is shocking, pointing to drastic actions involving the intimidation of employees, the introduction of a kind of censorship, gagging freedom of expression, and restricting the right to assess the Management Board’s conduct.

In the opinion of the Jelenia Góra Region of NSZZ “Solidarity,” this situation requires decisive social, media, and formal legal action—not only within the company, but also at the level of Bolesławiec, Lower Silesia, and the country.

The Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” declares:

  • participation in all actions aimed at defending employees against the employer’s negative conduct;
  • readiness to support the dismissed chairwoman of the Trade Union Organization of Employees of Zakłady Ceramiczne “Bolesławiec”;
  • readiness to participate in initiatives that will lead to dialogue and agreement on the employee matters mentioned above, as well as on issues related to agreeing with the employer on the required sources of workplace law, such as: Work Regulations, Remuneration Regulations, and Social Benefits Fund Regulations.

Jelenia Góra Region Board of NSZZ “Solidarity” Chairman Franiszek Kopeć