Coal miners have launched the largest underground strike in Polish history. Since early January 500 workers have occupied the Budryk mine, 3,000 feet underground. The original strike action began in mid-December but was escalated further when workers took over their workplace.

They seek equal pay with the employees of the Jastrzebska Coal Company, who have recently begun a similar mine occupation. Jastrzebska is looking to buy up the state-owned Budryk mine this year. Budryk workers say they labor under the lowest wages in all of Polish industry.

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The two unions leading the action, August 80 and Kadr, are coming under attack from right-wing politicians and business — but also from the trade unions Solidarnosc and ZZG, which have joined bosses in calling for state intervention to break up the strike. Motivated by last year’s methane explosion in the Halemba mine, workers are demanding better safety standards and wages, along with control over their workplaces to prevent more privatization of mining sites.

The miners are calling for international support. Letters of solidarity can be sent to , and contributions to the strike fund can be made under the name “Support fund for families of striking miners of Budryk.” The bank account is POLU PL PR PL 23 8454 1053 2001 0041 5426 0001. The name of the bank is Orzesko-Knurowski Bank, Spodzielczy Oddzia, Ornontowice, Poland.