Case of Striking Nurses Repressed in Lodz comes to a close - but the struggle for the right to strike continues

On December 11, four nurses from the Barlicki Hospital in Lodz were in court in relation to a strike held in the hospital in September 2008.

In April 2009, the four nurses, all unionists, were fired in retaliation for the strike. The strike, which lasted 11 days, saw demands for a pay increase. The nurses demanded salaries of between 2000-3500 zloties a month (450-800 euro at the time), depending on position and experience.

The director of the hospital, Piotr Kuna (who was on a government team of health care managers working to commericalize the health sector), contacted the public prosecutor's office, claiming that the strike was illegal. Kuna also threatened to sue the union, the All-Poland Union of Nurses and Midwives, for "damages" incurred during the strike. He claimed that he wanted to get this money and give it to the nurses who didn't strike.

The prosecutors' office opened a case against four members of the union, claiming that the strike started 4 days after it was announced to the hospital and not 5 days, as required by the Act. In fact, the situation has to do with the way the nurses were counting the days. Such minute details are often used to declare strikes illegal as the law as set out a complicated procedure for striking which is mainly beneficial to employers.

On December 14 a decision was made in the case. The nurses will not face charges but have to pay the hospital between 1.5 and 4000 zloties (more than 900 euros) damages.

This is just another attack on people who want to take action at their workplace. It is difficult to always comply 100% with all the complicated procedures for both strikes and the running of trade unions, and bosses use this to get rid of striking workers and unions. The problem is related to the government and the employer lobby, which look to introduce subtle ways to undermine the right to organize and to strike.