Unions give Kopacz mine plan thumbs up

The programme has a dual brief and is in the first instance aimed at increasing social dialogue in the region. Most eyes, however, were on what it has to say about the mining sector, the region's major employer and one of Poland's key industries.

Kopacz, after a meeting with mining union representatives in Katowice on Tuesday, said the unions had accepted the plan, but didn't flesh out its proposals. ”This meeting was very constructive. No-one was against the Programme for Silesia,” Kopacz said.

Kopacz’s government earlier this year declined to make cuts in the loss-making mining sector, amid claims she had fallen to mining union pressure.

Kopacz’s plan unveiled in January is to shut down the four worst-performing mines, sell another one, and create a new holding company with the remaining nine profitable mines. The programme is expected to see 5,000 jobs go and cost the government EUR 538 million. State-owned Kompania Węglowa, Europe's largest hard coal miner with 50,000 workers, made a loss of EUR 164 million in 2013 and EUR 262 million in the first 11 months of 2014.

Deputy head of the Miners Union (ZZG) Wacław Czerkawski told reporters on 30 June that the union was happy with proposals for the mines, but that “the devil is in the detail.”

The head of the Solidarność mining union Jarosław Grzesik said the programme would be supported “but after some time.”

The programme, which had already been approved by the treasury and finance ministries, also proposes adding a road building clause for the S1 and S69 highways and parts of the A1 motorway north of Częstochowa, and investments to create chemical products from coal waste and improve energy efficiency. (jh)