Polish Coal Miners Protest Underground Before Christmas

Additional Information on Protests and Employees' Demands
At the "Silesia" mine, management has recently announced its intentions to significantly restructure the operation and lay off hundreds of employees. Monday morning, the miners working the overnight shift chose to remain inside the mine after the conclusion of their work. There are approximately 30 – 40 miners involved in the protest, according to the union. The miners have indicated that the primary reason for their protest is related to the fact that they were not included in the new mining legislation (actually signed into law by Karol Nawrocki) last week.

Government Response to the Exclusion from Law
The new mining legislation will take effect on January 1, 2026 and provide government-guaranteed benefits such as mining leave, as well as tax-free severance payments (up to 170,000 zlotys or €40,000) for selected employees of publicly owned coal-producing companies. Unfortunately, the miners of Silesia do not benefit from the new protections. Additionally, the strikers have also requested that the mine owner pay the unpaid bonuses promised to them, provide written guarantees against any disciplinary action against them and send a representative or official to personally meet with Miłosz Motyka. On X, the social media platform, Motyka stated that since the mine is being privately restructured, direct public assistance is not permitted due to the nature of the restructuring being considered a formal barrier, not because the government chose to provide this assistance. He also stated that plans to assist while ultimately phasing out coal production in Poland are currently being reviewed.