Poland’s ZUS Employees Plan Nationwide Strike Amid Wider Wage Dispute

Employees of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) in Poland announced that their Częstochowa branch will join a nationwide three‑hour warning strike on 17 June 2026. The unions cite low salaries, staff shortages, heavy workloads and a lack of dialogue with the government as key grievances. Workers will leave their desks between 08:00 and 11:15 and will not serve clients in person or by phone.

At the same time, the Polish government has proposed raising the statutory minimum wage for 2027 to 4,950 złoty gross, a 144‑złoty increase. Employers argue the hike is excessive, while unions demand a level above 5,000 złoty. The proposal will be debated in the Council of Social Dialogue, with the final decision expected in September. The increase would affect roughly three million low‑paid workers and could raise public‑sector salaries and pensions, costing an estimated 16.7 billion złoty.