15.02.2011. In recent months there have been some disturbances in the OBI stores in several Polish cities. The workers had set up a union OBI store in Krakow and management took action against. Since then there were several solidarity actions, and the first steps towards a network in several Polish cities. In various media workers have begun to complain publicly about working conditions in the German DIY chain.
Salaries vary, but they earn about 350 € per month. Women often earn less than their male colleagues.
In some stores there are flexible schedules. Employees may be required to work some days in shifts of four hours and other days up to ten hours. The shifts are often unpredictable and not
planned. Many workers are also required to work on Sundays or other days when they work elsewhere.
Workers complain that there are great problems in calculating overtime.
OBI
Other workers complain that they do not qualify for Social Fund.
There are reports of injuries, particularly in relation to transport heavy objects. Workers complain that the equipment fleet is too old and should not be used. In particular, a ramshackle truck
was the cause of several accidents.
Another problem is the attacks on the dignity of workers, as harassment or thinly veiled threats of job loss. There was, for example, reports of employees of a shop in Lodz on
OBI unbearable harassment in 2009. The common attitude of managers is: "If you do not like work - no one is irreplaceable ¨.
Provided that employees with legitimate claims, they hear OBI want to downsize anyway. What they actually do? Can replace permanent positions for temporary work.
creative in finding savings in personnel, OBI also came out with something special: it is to replace parts of the workforce through "electronic sales staff ¨. These are computerized dolls that are programmed to respond to simple questions from customers. This is a test project in the early years of OBI was installed in a shop in Warsaw. At least in one case, wrist
also had an "industrial injury ¨.
attacks against the union
OBI has a history of attacks on freedom of association in Poland. The first attempt to organize a union was prevented in Warsaw in 2001. Then occurió not anything until 2010 when the workers organized
from a majority union in Krakow. One of the most active members was fired and another was threatening to dismissal. The woman was dismissed
the judiciary work but in the meantime she found a job in competitor's store. There she was fired after they learned of his union activity in OBI.
is also typical that the unionists are harassed by their bosses. Often this takes the form of all types of threats relating to staff reductions. In another town a fellow who complained about working conditions
received a warning and Threatens to dismissal.
workers' demands
siguinete Some of the lawsuits were brought by the union in the shop in Krakow. Others are from other stores that have begun to create networks between them.
They call for an end wage discrimination against women and an end to threats against trade unionists. OBI must end with the replacement of the fixed and temporary employment from ETTs. In addition, workers want an increase of 500 PLN (approx. 125 €) per month, a regimen for overtime, and a supplement of 100 zlotys (approx. 25 €) for work on Sundays. They are demanding the replacement of old equipment (eg forklifts) and improving health and safety at work. They want the day off on Christmas Eve and New Year. Also demand the end of the mysterious customer use and purpose of harassment. OBI want to leave
plans replace a portion of the workforce by electronic dolls. They also call 50 zloty (approx. 12.5 €) for cleaning of uniforms.
And action
was in Poland and solidarity actions in January. For the next few weeks are scheduled actions in Germany and Poland in support of workers.
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