Grupa Azoty strike emergency escalates as unions set meeting with management

Polish chemical group Grupa Azoty faced an emergency strike (pogotowie strajkowe) declared by trade unions, including NSZZ Solidarność, at plants in Kędzierzyn‑Koźle, Police, Puławy, Grzybów and Tarnów. The unions demand a net basic‑wage increase of 1,500 zł for all workers effective 1 September 2026 with retroactive adjustment from 1 June 2026, plus a seniority bonus of 30 zł per year of service, a shift allowance of 1,500 zł, introduction of jubilee awards, reduced working hours and a motivational bonus for Q1 2024.

After a seven‑day waiting period, the Azoty management replied, saying economic and organisational constraints prevent meeting the wage demands, but invited union representatives to a meeting scheduled for 28 August. The company, currently undergoing financial restructuring, notes that total payroll costs in 2025 amounted to about 1.9 billion zł (13.7 % of total costs) for 13,524 employees. If all demand‑driven increases were applied, monthly payroll would rise by over 20 million zł, exceeding 140 million zł annually, with additional cost implications when gross wages are considered.