CEO of Poland’s state money printing firm fired: interior ministry

Piotr Woyciechowski, chairman of the board at the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW), has been dismissed by the company’s supervisory board because of a growing conflict with employees and trade unions, the interior ministry said in a statement.

It added that the dispute “prevented efficient and proper operation of the Polish Security Printing Works,” which it said is a company of strategic importance to the country “so its functioning must be smooth and raise no doubts."

PWPW -- which is the Polish equivalent of the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing -- announced the dismissal of Woyciechowski as its CEO on Monday. The company at the time denied media reports that its management board illegally recorded trade unionists.

According to reports by media outlets including the Fakt tabloid and private radio broadcaster RMF FM, unionists at the printing works were illegally recorded in a cafe near the company’s Warsaw headquarters, and recordings were subsequently emailed to members of the two largest trade unions operating in the company.

Overseen by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Polish Security Printing Works is listed among strategic state-owned companies in Poland. It produces documents such as passports, identity cards, driving licences and car registration certificates. It also prints banknotes for the National Bank of Poland (NBP).

Woyciechowski became CEO of PWPW in January last year. Earlier he held managerial positions in companies including Nafta Polska, Naftor, GGKO and Post Media Service, according to Poland’s PAP news agency.

He has also drawn up reports on security and protection of classified information for various state authorities.

In the past he served as deputy head of a commission tasked with disbanding Poland’s Military Intelligence Services (WSI), a military intelligence agency that operated from 1991 to 2006. (gs/pk)

Source: PAP