Unions want 20 per cent pay increases this year, backdated to July and 25 per cent from January next year. Photo: Supplied.
Thousands of public sector workers from around Poland have taken part in a ‘March of Rage’ through Warsaw to the Prime Minister’s office demanding pay increases.
‘Without us, the State wouldn’t exist’, stated one banner at the head of the procession.
In a statement beforehand, march organisers said this was the last chance for the Government to meet the legitimate demands of employees who served the State and citizens on a daily basis.
A General Election is being held next month at which the conservative Law and Justice Party is seeking a third term.
Among those to take part in the protest were employees of the judicial and healthcare systems, police and fire services, customs, tax and post offices, and cultural institutions.
Trade unions claim that, in the space of four years, cumulative inflation has reached 45 per cent while public sector salaries have increased only by 18 per cent.
“According to our estimates, one quarter of employees in the public sector receive remuneration at the level of the minimum wage, and next year, when [the minimum wage] will increase to 4300 zloty ($A1,548) a month, it will be more than half of the employees,” a march organiser said.
Unions want 20 per cent pay increases this year, backdated to July and 25 per cent from January next year.
An estimated 10,000 took part in the Warsaw march while many public sector employees across the nation staged walkouts at work.
Dorota, an employee of the prosecutor’s office in Lublin said she had decided to come to the protest because, after 30 years of work, she earned less than 4000 zloty ($A1440) a month.
“We were disregarded during the previous Government, now this Government disregards us,” Dorota said.
Warsaw, 17 September 2023
