Oils well in Poland

PKN Orlen, Poland’s largest oil refinery employing 4,500 people, has reached agreement with the 10 of the 11 unions active in the company on pay increases for 2012.

The staged deal provides for a 200 zł (€48, £40) a month increase for all employees in April followed by another increase in August. However, this second increase, worth 150 zł (€36, £30) a month on average, will vary between individuals and the company has stated that this larger than usual amount, will be used to “reward the best-performing employees. The agreement also provides for a one-off payment of 2,400 zł (€572, £477) paid in two parts, March and December.

Krzysztof Barcikowksi, head of the largest union in the company (MZZPRC), said that although the two sides had been far apart at the start of negotiations, the union was now “satisfied” with the outcome.