After three months of protest action of the company's employees, the trade unionists have come to an agreement with the management of the company. From September, all employees will get a raise - for the time being PLN 100 gross, and additionally drivers will get a 7 percent commission on tickets sold on buses. Today, Marek Kuchciński, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, has joined the mediators between the unions and the company's authorities.

Trade unions fought for the agreement for 3 months. In June they started a protest action. Employees demanded a 200 PLN raise, as well as a nine percent commission for drivers on tickets sold in buses.

They managed to win a part of it. Andrzej Buczek, chairman of the board of the "Ziemia Przemyska" [Przemysl Land] region NSZZ Solidarność - We hope that the employees will be satisfied with the agreement, because they will receive their first pay rise of PLN 100 gross from the first of September, that is this month.

The second tranche of the increase, this time 150 PLN gross, for all employees will be paid from the first of February 2012. Drivers will also get commissions, which they fought for, but not 9 percent, but 7 percent, of all tickets sold in the buses. Especially the drivers are happy with this solution. Thanks to this they will be able to earn extra 100 - 200 PLN per month.

Ryszard Kurdek, chairman of the works committee of NSZZ Solidarność in Jarosław - This is driving a vehicle, taking care of the safety of passengers, this is really onerous work, which the drivers undertook and performed for a year and did not take extra pay for it.

The president of the company, who still in July did not want to agree to pay rises, is also satisfied with the terms of the agreement. Barbara Stec, president of MZK in Jarosław - I'm glad that the trade unionists will receive their salaries, they will get a pay rise, it may not be as high as expected, but as I have already said - with small steps and full economic control we will achieve more than with one big step.

For now, however, the plant must deal with its debts. Its losses for 2010 amount to 153 thousand zlotys. This issue will be discussed during the session of the city council. Andrzej Wyczawski, mayor of Jarosław - This is my task, I take it on my shoulders. I believe that the council will strongly discuss the matter with the president, I believe that the council will understand.

Marek Kuchciński, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, acted as a mediator during the signing of today's agreement. - Frankly speaking, in the middle of these talks I wasn't sure if a compromise could be found, but with good will and in order to ensure the fluidity of the form and not only those 60 employees, but also the stability of the whole public transport, it's better to compromise. The issue of bonuses paid to employees remains to be established.

The two sides are expected to return to talks in February. The amount of the bonus is to depend on the company's financial condition and fuel price increases, among other factors.

September 12, 2011. TVP 3 Rzeszów, Karolina Bik