Ukrainian firm Aerobud cheats workers, hires strikebreakers

A group of construction workers downed tools this week after company fails to pay them or provide them with contracts.

Submitted by akai on July 24, 2010

The firm Aerobud from Kiev became the subcontractor at a building site in the Polish city of Leszno. The winner of the tender, Karmar SA decided to use this firm, which would bring workers from Ukraine. The people were offered 2500 zloties a month and started work in June. They were supposed to get paid at the beginning of July but didn't, so at the beginning of this week, 32 workers went on strike. Aerobud brought in new workers from Ukraine to replace them.

The workers went to the State Labour Inspectorate. They do not deal with these cases since the Ukrainians were employed on a civil contract. It turns out that they did not even receive written contracts, despite asking the employer for them. There was always some delay. In this case, the workers are receiving no advice accept that they should go back to Ukraine and try to get paid.

We are hoping that action will be taken against Aerobud at their headquarters in Kiev.

Comments

akai

14 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by akai on July 26, 2010

Today was a visit to their tiny representative office in Warsaw where we found out that the new workers could not be strikebreakers, since workers leaving work without having a union declare a strike, is not a strike. :-)

Actions already being planned in Ukraine and Poland.

akai

14 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by akai on July 26, 2010

There is another story we heard about now, from Szczecin. The firm WARBUD BIS was building something at Szczeinska St. 22. The workers there had no contracts at all, no insurance either. And they weren't paid for a couple of months. They were promised that they would finally receive their money last Tuesday. But they didn't so they stopped working.

The boss there, Tomasz Przybylski heard about this... and fired them all.

So they went to the chairman of the company, Miroslaw Przybylski, with a journalist. Then they each got 200 zl. (about 50 euros) and were told that they would get the rest on Friday. Of course they didn't.

Since that time, nobody can find the Przybylskis, who are not in their office and do not answer the phones.

Unfortunately, quite a lot of shady construction firms out there.

akai

14 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by akai on July 27, 2010

The mainstream Ukrainian press is starting to pick this one up. Hopefully some potential workers will be warned:

http://finance.tochka.net/8782-ukraintsev-ostavili-bez-zarplaty-v-polshe-svoi