A successful challenge by the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) in the Polish constitutional court means that self-employed workers can now join trade unions.
OPZZ argued that the existing labour regulations were in breach of workers’ basic rights to representation in the workplace. The tribunal judged that stopping self-employed workers from joining or forming trade unions was contrary to the Polish constitution.
“The decision will have positive consequences both for workers themselves and for trade unions facing declining membership, as they can now recruit self-employed members,” said OPZZ International Officer Adam Rogalewski. Solidarność has already started organising around the Gdansk shipyards. It also means the growing numbers of atypical workers in Poland can seek trade union protection and improve their rights.