– Thank you for coming to this room; for your perseverance, due to the fact that we have 20 years of past behind us. I don't know if any of you remember the beginnings, I remember them well. Thank you for having endured, despite the difficulties that arise in engaging with the advice of employees on a regular basis. I thank the talker of the Sejm for his hospitality – said Rafał Górski, president of the Institute of civilian Affairs, at the beginning of the 6th National Forum of Workers' Councils.
The Forum besides welcomed participants Michał Jarosławskithe president Citizen Accelerator of Innovationwhich together with the Institute of civilian Affairs and ESG PRO Sp. z o.o. they organized this year's event on 19 May in the Hall of Columns of the Sejm of Poland.
Reception squad ready to welcome guests of the 6th worker Council Forum, photograph by Marek PatykRafał Górski reminded briefly the most crucial events of the 20th anniversary of the existence of worker councils in Poland. He mentioned restrictions on employers, legislators, politicians to the functioning of worker councils. Looking across the board, the only politician who in many years all day sought the subjectivity of advice in companies was Senator Zbigniew Romaszewski. Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski showed interest in councils and support with the current activity.
The numbers are ruthless: 17 years ago there were over 3,000 worker councils, present there are about 400 remaining. What's next? I don't know, said Rafał Górski.
We can separate 3 types of advice:
- Council of statutory employees – must be, so be it
- employee advice yellow – controlled by the employer.
- Staff council 2.0 – sources of competitive advantage. These advices will be discussed at the Council Forum.
Rafał Górski and 20-year-old worker council in Poland, photograph by Marek Patyk
We compose about people, not power.
We show the fact about causes, not consequences. We are your voice. Support independence!
Donate and become our contributor
Letter from the Marshal of the Parliament of Vladimir Black
Messenger Joanna Wicha welcomed the participants of the Forum. She read a letter from the Marshal of the Sejm, The Wizard.
The marshal commended the counsel. He expressed satisfaction at the fact that in the 20th anniversary of the Councils of the Forum is held in the building of the Sejm, which provides area for discussion and search for solutions. The presence of bodies associated with the formation of public dialog fits into this trend. Cooperation between employers and workers based on reliable information and consultation is the foundation of the improvement of the modern economy.
Joanna Wicha, photograph by Marek PatykGuests, discussions, opinions
There's a senator at the Forum. Krzysztof Kwiatkowski. Parliament is curious in the subject of worker councils. In the past, a draft amendment of the bill was prepared and presented in the Senate. Unfortunately, there was only 1 vote to adopt this bill. We have a problem with social dialog in Poland. “I observe this in different functions,” said Senator Kwiatkowski. He declared that he would support the council initiatives.
Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, photograph by Marek PatykIt turned out that the panel “Employee Council 2.0: partner in company development” manager Karolina Woznica (Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy) her master's thesis has just written about the Act governing the activities of staff councils. He believes that advice should not be subject to trade unions, should be separated from them and be the voice of the crew.
(from the left) Aleksandra Nowack-Leverton (w-w-w-w president of the board, De Gruyter Brill Sp. z o.o.) and Karolina Wozniczko, z-ca director, Department of dialog and Social Partnership (MRPiPS), photograph by Marek PatykThe Ministry has made any assessment of the bill. It is now waiting for evaluations by the social partners as part of the work of the Department of dialog and Social Partnership.
He besides participated in the Forum Peter Ciompa, expert on staff councils. On its own initiative, the Institute of civilian Affairs was curious 20 years ago in the subject substance of councils, giving impetus to the creation of Centre for the Support of Workers' Councils.
Piotr Ciompa, photograph by Marek PatykEach associate of the Forum as part of the material package received, among others, the book “Technology unemployment. Facts and myths’. It is simply a collection of respective interviews by Rafał Górski with experts: – The publication you hold in your hand is simply a warning. He asks uncomfortable questions about humanity in the workplace and whether in pursuit of technological advancement we do not break the ladder level, after which we can no longer turn back – the author writes in the introduction.
Effective staff council in practice
Sharing experiences by the Council is 1 of the strongest points of the program at each Forum. The exchange of information, reflection affects the improvement of knowledge.
The panel members of the councils talked about their challenges.
Daily operation in companies is simply a variety of topics: from monitoring (collection of sound by device), through consultation issues to issues concerning the creation of different procedures, strengthening the culture of dialog in the company. This is besides the request for budget councils to have, for example, training in the areas of competence needed to act in the council.
What powers should counsel acquire? How do you respond to the impact of AI on work? What else can be achieved? How can we encourage action in the advice of young workers? Do employees know what the council does in their workplace?
- Andrzej Otroba, staff council Lincoln electrical Bester Sp. z o.o.,
- Angelika Pyzik-Kapszewicz, the board of staff of the Malbork Castle Museum,
- Roman Rostek, expert, Centre for the Support of Workers' Councils,
- Regina Gerhard-Wrote, staff council, Arcelor Mittal SSC.
Moderation: Mariusz Juror, expert, Civic Accelerator of Innovation.
Discussion with members of staff councils, photograph by the Institute of civilian Affairs – I want that the 7th Forum of Workers' Councils should be organised in a akin or even larger group – the discussion was concluded by Mariusz Lavnik.
– Thank you for being here. I hope that today's discussions in the forum and in the spheres have given you the strength to decision forward. Thank you to the squad of the Institute of civilian Affairs, Civic Accelerator of Innovation, ESG PRO for organising the 6th National Forum of Workers' Councils," added Rafał Górski.
