http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-1743117,00.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-1743232,00.html

Polish workers’ protest against Tesco Ireland spreads east
Richard Fletcher



THE fallout from Tesco’s row with two Polish workers formerly employed at
its distribution centre in Ireland has now spread to London and Poland,
where the supermarket giant is being targeted by protesters. The row will be
deeply embarrassing for Tesco, which has attempted to tackle labour
shortages by recruiting hundreds of staff from Poland over the past 12
months.
The dispute, which began earlier this month, centres on two Polish workers —
Zbyszek Bukala and Radek Sawicki — who worked at Tesco’s distribution centre
in Tallaght. The two men, who were employed by a recruitment agency, claim
to have been “sacked” after complaining about working conditions at the
warehouse. They had also objected to the fact that Tesco staff were paid
more than those employed by the agency.



The protesters targeting Tesco have demanded the reinstatment of the pair,
are asking that agency staff who have worked for Tesco for more than three
months are taken on full-time, and are calling for an end to daily targets
for staff working in distribution centres.

Tesco, the biggest supermarket chain in Ireland and Britain, insisted that
the operation of the warehouse had been unaffected, despite reports of
walkouts in support of the sacked workers. The All-Poland Alliance of Trade
Unions has backed the protest, writing to the British Chamber of Commerce in
Poland and the chairman of Tesco Polska to register its concern. Tesco
stores in Warsaw, Poznan, Gdynia and Szczecin have also been picketed by
protesters.

Poland is one of Tesco’s largest international markets, but despite having
paid £390m (€573m) to buy rival retailer Hit, Tesco has yet to make a profit
in the country. Retailers in Poland have been hit hard by a depressed
economy and tighter planning regulations.

Tesco insisted that the dispute was an isolated incident. “We thrive on
Tesco being an attractive place to work. Feedback from the Polish workers in
our UK business is very positive. They like working for Tesco and a number
have already been promoted and are looking forward to successful careers
with us,” it added.