Regarding OTTO Campaign

Solidarity Campaign! Please send emails using the form on the page www.otto.zsp.net.pl

Situation of Injured Worker on Sick Leave

Maciej was injured on the job while working in Belgium through OTTO Workforce. He was supposed to be covered by Dutch insurance, since he was working through a Dutch company and living in Holland and this insurance should then be transferred and valid in Poland. But the company had informed the Dutch insurer that Maciej was no longer an employee the day after he went on sick leave and, when he returned to Poland, he found he was not insured, had medical bills and was not getting paid for sick leave.

Thanks to our intervention, Maciej received some payment and is getting his medical bills covered. But the situation is not too good now.

SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANTS!

Leaflet for informational action before the beginning of the Week against Borders and Deportations.

Throughout Europe, the ugly head of anti-immigrant politics is again showing its face. People fleeing war, poverty, political persecution and ecological catastrophe find it more and more difficult to escape, imprisoned by States in national borders. Some European countries like France or Holland even make policies to deport EU citizens, exposing the real nature of the EU's supposed “freedom of movement”; it is not really for everybody. The real freedom is for capital and all that serves it.

While Poles go abroad to work, sometimes being exposed to poor, precarious working conditions, local businesspeople import more and more workers to Poland as a new, cheaper and easier to control workforce. Often they do not enjoy the same conditions as Poles, they are discriminated against and have many of their basic rights violated. And these are the LEGALLY EMPLOYED. The situation of the many immigrants forced to work in the black economy can be much, much worse.

ZSP stands in solidarity with workers, people who are just trying to make their living and survive. We understand that workers are forced to compete against each other by the system that makes the desperate agree to take as little as possible in order to survive.

Sometimes this causes people to go against people just like themselves, which is much easier than going against what the real problems are - capitalism, exploitation and the State. We call on workers to unite and organize, regardless of country of origin, to defend their rights, improve working conditions and build organizations to overthrow this exploitative system and organize for workers' self-management.

We also call for the end of the policing and hunting of immigrants and the closure of Frontex, immigrant catching and migration control agency, headquartered in Warsaw. For freedom of movement, but against the misery which is often the real story behind immigration. Against the artificial borders that divide people! Solidarity and mutual aid between people, throughout the world, against oppression and exploitation!

http://anti-frontex.blogspot.com

Acciones informativas del 23 al 25 de Abril

ZSP organiza acciones informativas para trabajadores inmigrantes en las dos últimas semanas de abril. En los días 23-25 de abril, ha previsto visitas a huertos frutales, mercados y obras de construcción donde trabajan en su mayoría trabajadores inmigrantes, incluidas empresas que son conocidas por sus prácticas abusivas. Con estas acciones, ZSP espera tanto exponer el tema a un público más amplio (ya que es poco discutido en Polonia, donde este trabajo sigue siendo en parte invisible) como ayudar a informar a los trabajadores de sus derechos, qué pueden hacer si no se cumplen y animarles a organizarse!

Jornadas Contra las Fronteras

Contra el Capitalismo y el Estado, Viva la Solidaridad Internacional

Del 16 al 23 de mayo en Varsovia, organizamos eventos en contra de las fronteras, a favor de la solidaridad internacional. Nuestro objetivo es difundir la idea de que la existencia de fronteras y la lógica del nacionalismo nos mantienen divididos. Como trabajadores mucho puede venir determinado por el lugar donde vivimos o de donde venimos. El sistema nos obliga a competir, en vez de unirnos en la lucha.

Los actos programados incluyen proyecciones de películas, debates, reuniones, conferencias, actividades y espectáculos callejeros y una manifestación ante la sede de Frontex, la agencia Europea de control de fronteras.

ZSP va a organizar varios debates y coloquios, incluyendo los siguientes temas: Control de la Inmigración y los Mercados Laborales de Europa, La situación de los Trabajadores Inmigrantes en Polonia, la Organización de Trabajadores Inmigrantes y la Política de Inmigración de la UE y Libia.

Las jornadas son co-organizadas con el colectivo RAS (Acción Radical
Solidaria).

Contacto: info@zsp.net.pl

Dni antygraniczne

Przeciw kapitalizmowi i rządom, niech żyje solidarność międzynarodowa!

16 do 23 maja ZSP organizuje różne wydarzenia przeciw granicom na rzecz solidarności międzynadowej. Chcemy propagować pomyśl, że istnienie granic i logika nacjonalizmu dzieli nas. Dla pracowników wiele decyduje ich miejsce zamieszkania czy pochodzenia, co tworzy konkurencję wsród nas, gdy my powinni walczyć razem.

W dniach antygranicznych są zaplanowane filmy, dyskusje, spotkania, wydarzenia uliczne oraz demonstracja przeciw Frontexowi, unijna agencja graniczna.

ZSP zorganizuje m.in. konferencje i wyklady i dyskuje na tematy: Kontrol imigrantów i rynek pracy w Europie, Sytuacja pracowników cudzoziemców w Polsce, Organizacja imigrantów pracowników i UE i polityka imigracyjny w Libii.

Wydarzenia organizujemy razem z kolektywą RAS .

Więcej informacji: info@zsp.net.pl

Tage gegen Grenzen

Gegen Kapitalismus und Staat, lang lebe die internationale Solidarität!

Vom 16. bis 23. Mai organisiert die ZSP Warschau verschiedene Veranstaltungen gegen Grenzen als Zeichen der internationalen Solidarität. Es soll vermittelt werden, dass die Existenz von Grenzen und die Logik des Nationalismus uns voneinander trennt. Für ArbeiterInnen hängt viel davon ab wo man lebt oder herkommt. Das System zwingt uns zum Vergleich, anstelle des gemeinsamen Kampfes.

Zu den geplanten Veranstaltungen zählen Filmvorführungen, Diskussionen, Treffen, Lesungen, öffentliche Treffen und eine Demonstration gegen FRONTEX, die europäische Grenzpolizei.

Für die Diskussionen und Veranstaltungen sind verschiedene Themen geplant: Migrationskontrolle und der Arbeitsmarkt in Europa, die Situation ausländischer ArbeiterInnen in Polen, Organisation von Immigranten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt, sowie die EU Immigrationspolitik und Lybien.

Die Veranstaltungen werden mit dem Kollektiv RAS zusammen ausgerichtet.

Für mehr Information, siehe: info@zsp.net.pl

Dias contra as Fronteiras

Contra o Capitalismo e o Estado, Viva a Solidariedade Internacional

De 16 a 23 de maio em Varsóvia, nós iremos organizar eventos contra as fronteiras, a favor da solidariedade internacional. Nós objetivamos espalhar a ideia de que a existência de fronteiras e a lógica do nacionalismo nos mantém divididas/os. Como trabalhadoras/es muito é determinado por onde vivemos, ou de onde viemos. O sistema nos está forçando a competir, ao invés de nos unirmos em nossa luta.

Os eventos planejados incluem exibição de filmes, discussões, reuniões, palestras, assembleias de rua e uma manifestação na sede da Frontex, a agência de fronteira da União Europeia.

A ZSP planeja organizar diversas discussões e painéis, incluindo os seguintes tópicos: Controle de Migração e os Mercados de Trabalho na Europa, a Situação dos/as Trabalhadores/as Imigrantes na Polônia, Organização do Trabalho Imigrante e a Política de Imigração da UE e a Líbia.

Os Dias estão sendo organizados com o coletivo RAS (Ação de Solidariedade Radical).

Informações: info@zsp.net.pl

Informational Actions April 23-25

ZSP is organizing informational actions for immigrant workers in the last two weeks of April. On the days 23-25 of April, visits are planned to fruit orchards, wholesale markets and construction sites where there are predominantly immigrant workers, including places which are known for their abusive practices. With these actions, ZSP hopes to both expose the topic to a wider audience (as it is little discussed in Poland, where this labour remains partly invisible) and to help inform workers of their rights, what they can do if they are violated and encourage them to organize!

Days Against Borders

Against Capitalism and the State, Long Live International Solidarity!

May 16-23 in Warsaw, we are organizing events against the borders, in favour of international solidarity. We aim to spread the idea that the existence of borders and the logic of nationalism keeps us divided. As workers much is determined by where we live, or where we come from. The system is forcing us to compete, instead of unite in our struggle.

The events planned include film screenings, discussions, meetings, lectures, streets meetings and a demonstration at the headquarters of Frontex, the EU border agency.

ZSP plans to organize several discussions and panels, including the following topics: Migration Control and the Labour Markets of Europe, the Situation of Immigrant Workers in Poland, Immigrant Labour Organizing and EU immigration policy and Libya.

The days are co-organized with the collective RAS (Radical Solidarity Action).

Information: info@zsp.net.pl

Gegen den Mißbrauch von ArbeiterInnen bei OTTO-Workforce!

Wie OTTO-Workforce mit verletzten ArbeiterInnen umgeht.

Neue Aktionen gegen OTTO-Workforce sind geplant. Zusätzlich zu den bisherigen Forderungen gegen die Ausbeutung von ZeitarbeiterInnen, stellt sich die Frage nach der Behandlung verletzter ArbeiterInnen. M., der in den Niederlanden Waren ausgeladen hatte, verletzte sich währenddessen sehr schwer, so dass er krank geschrieben war. OTTO-Workforce verweigerte Lohnfortzahlung im Krankheitsfall und ließ ihm mitteilen, dass sie für ihn keine weitere Beschäftigung hat.

How OTTO Treats Injured Workers

New actions are planned at OTTO Workforce. In addition to previous demands against abuse of temporary workers, we raise the question of the treatment of injured workers. M., who was working in Holland loading goods, sustained a serious injury related to this work. He has been on sick leave. The company has not paid him any money during this time and has said that it will not have any other work for him.

The worker is not able to get any answers from the company, which also refuses to send him anything in writing or even give him the emails of people responsible for claims.

OTTO has claimed to journalists investigating their treatment of workers that claims that they do not always pay for sick leave are unfounded. Yet at the same time, this man, injured on the job, gets absolutely no financial support, is told there is no different work for him and is brushed off when trying to ask about his payment from the company! This is totally unacceptable! No tolerance for labour abuse! OTTO workforce – pay this sick leave and appropriate compensation! New jobs for workers who cannot perform their old ones due to industrial accidents! Better safety and work conditions on the job now!

Cómo OTTO trata a los trabajadores que sufren acidentes laborales

Nuevas acciones están previstas contra las practicas antiobreras de OTTO Workforce. Además de las demandas anteriores contra el abuso de los trabajadores temporales, se plantea la cuestión del trato hacia los trabajadores lesionados. M., que estaba trabajando con cargas en Holanda, sufrió una lesión grave relacionada con este trabajo. Él ha estado de baja. La empresa no le ha pagado ningún dinero durante ese tiempo y ha dicho que no tendrá ningún otro trabajo para él.
El compañero no puede obtener ninguna respuesta de la empresa, que se niega también a enviar nada por escrito o incluso darle los correos electrónicos de las personas responsables de las reclamaciones.

OTTO ha afirmado a los periodistas que investigan el trato hacia los trabajadores que las afirmaciones de que la empresa no siempre paga las bajas carecen de fundamento. Sin embargo, al mismo tiempo, este hombre, herido en el trabajo, no recibe ninguna ayuda financiera, le dicen que no hay un trabajo diferente para él y le dan largas cuando trata de preguntar acerca del pago de su baja! Esto es totalmente inaceptable! No toleramos para el abuso laboral! OTTO Workforce - paga la baja y una compensación adecuada! Nuevos puestos de trabajo para los trabajadores que no pueden realizar los viejos debido a accidentes laborales! Mejores medidas de seguridad y condiciones de trabajo ya!

First victory against OTTO Workforce

After our protest at the main office of OTTO Workforce in Venray on Monday March 21st the initial results are in. During this action 20 people got arrested, which caused a local disturbance and received a lot of media attention. Because of this protest, OTTO director Frank van Gool, was forced to give in to some of the demands of the company’s ex-workers.

Problems with the Otto Temp Agency

Over the last few years, there have been tons of complaints about the practices of the Otto Workforce temp agency, in particular from Poles being sent to work abroad in Holland. It has found itself on at least one internet blacklist as an agency which cheats workers. Some people who work there or worked there in the past, have contacted AGA and ZSP about various problems, asking what they can do. At the very least, they ask us to warn people and inform them of their rightsand what can be done if they are cheated.

From various letters, complaints on our internet forum and personal conversations, we present a preliminary list of the most typical problems. We are speaking to more people and are hoping to be able to present more facts soon. An information campaign aimed at potential and current workers should also start soon.