1. Building dialogue in the private security sector in Poland

2. Security Sector in Poland More than 200,000 workers More than 200,000 workers Hundreds of small companies Hundreds of small companies Small number of large and rapidly growing companies Small number of large and rapidly growing companies Very low union membership Very low union membership

3. Low pay 5,60 zł per hour (less than 2€) Low pay 5,60 zł per hour (less than 2€) Fee-for-task agreements Fee-for-task agreements Too much overtime Too much overtime Low status of the profession Low status of the profession Companies compete based on low wages, not quality Companies compete based on low wages, not quality Issues

4. 2006 “Solidarność” begins an organising campaign in the private security sector with support of UNI

5. Campaign Goals To build national union of security workers To build national union of security workers To establish dialogue with employers that improves working conditions for security workers in Poland To establish dialogue with employers that improves working conditions for security workers in Poland

6. Basic Strategy Organising campaign in Warsaw (largest market) Organising campaign in Warsaw (largest market) National Partnership Agreements on organising rights with employers National Partnership Agreements on organising rights with employers Expand Campaign to other key markets Expand Campaign to other key markets

7. 40+% of Warsaw market 40+% of Warsaw market Concentration of top clients Concentration of top clients 10 000 guards 10 000 guards Includes multinationals Includes multinationals Organising campaign in 8 key companies

8. Elements of the campaign Mapping & issue identification Mapping & issue identification 1 on 1 contact with workers 1 on 1 contact with workers Communications: leaflets, website, media Communications: leaflets, website, media Political Political Legal Legal Client (Principal Employer) Client (Principal Employer)

9. End of 2006 996 members

10. Employers’ Anti-Union Actions Ekotrade Ekotrade Fired union leader. Solid Security Solid Security Fired 21 trade union members Reduced the working hours of union activists Reduced the working hours of union activists Forced 72 workers to resign from the union. Forced 72 workers to resign from the union. Yellow Unions Yellow Unions Several employers actively promote management controlled organisations

11. Going public  Client Letters  Leafleting  Pickets  International support – UNI, SIPTU  Reports on working conditions in private security sector/Press events  Demonstration in front of government  Exhibition "Fathers return home: Our children need their fathers" Activities putting pressure on commercial and government clients:

12. What we won Union now has partnership agreements in 6 companies – Solid, G4S, Securitas, Impel, Konsalnet and Ekotrade; Union now has partnership agreements in 6 companies – Solid, G4S, Securitas, Impel, Konsalnet and Ekotrade; Covering more than 40 000 security workers. Union has also a partnership agreement with PZP “Ochrona” – a national employers’ association

13. Building a National Union Late 2007, individual branch unions merged to form national security workers union Late 2007, individual branch unions merged to form national security workers union

14. Wrocław Poznań Gdańsk other Cities Campaign has expanded

15. As of Today 5000 members >25% density in key markets And Growing! And Growing!

16. But, it is not possible to fulfil the EU standards of social dialogue in the private security sector in Poland as long as: Workers earn 5 – 6zl per hour Workers earn 5 – 6zl per hour Workers must work more than 300 hours per month in order to provide for their families Workers must work more than 300 hours per month in order to provide for their families

17. Solving These Problems Continue to build the union Continue to build the union Reform public tender process to include quality criteria Reform public tender process to include quality criteria Negotiate industry collective agreement Negotiate industry collective agreement

18. Industry-wide collective bargaining is the only way we can raise standards across the industry and make positive changes in private security sector in Poland.

19. In July, “Solidarnosc” began simultaneous collective negotiations with the 8 biggest companies. In July, “Solidarnosc” began simultaneous collective negotiations with the 8 biggest companies. There is a single unified negotiations committee with representatives from all 8 companies

20. Our Goal A common collective agreement which effectively will set a higher standard for the entire sector