Trade union and civil rights violations at LOT Polish Airlines

To: media@lot.pl
Subject: Protest Letter - Protest trade union and civil rights violations at LOT Polish Airlines

To Mr. Tomasz Dembski - Acting President of the Board - LOT Polish Airlines

Ref: Protest Letter - Protest trade union and civil rights violations at LOT Polish Airlines

Dear Mr Dembski,

I am writing to you to express serious concern about trade union and civil rights violations at LOT Polish Airlines.

Information that received by the International Transport Workers’ Federation via the LOT cabin crew union indicates that on February 2nd, the company ordered a group of selected individuals to enter four trade union offices. These people confiscated computer hardware and software used by trade unions, with the purpose of inspecting the data held. All the unions involved were operating legitimately as on airline premises.

Mr Dembski, I am particularly concerned because the computers concerned contained not only trade union documentation and correspondence, but also the personal data of trade union members.

These interferences with trade union work constitute fundamental violations of trade union, civil and human rights. I would urge you, therefore, to intervene immediately to return confiscated property and to make guarantees that neither the company nor its agents have retained trade union or personal records as a result of this incident.

I would also strongly urge you to enter into a good faith agreement with the unions guaranteeing full support for trade union rights, respect for union members and non-interference with union functioning in LOT.

I would be grateful to hear your comments.

Yours sincerely,