A-Infos (en) zsp.net.pl: Workers Win against Citibank for Discrimination and Mobbing

Two workers have won their cases against Citibank in Poland. Three people had sued the 
company - for discrimination of a worker after paternity leave, for mobbing and for sexual 
harrassment. The court found in favour of the two workers who claimed discrimination and 
mobbing and awarded them significant compensation. In the case of the discrimination case, 
the victory is especially significant as there is widespread pressure at work for men not 
to take paternity leave - a pressure which reinforces patriarchal practices in the society 
and which penalizes men who might want to share parenting responsibilities. ---- Citibank 
has appealed the decision. ---- A third case, held separately in another city, has been 
dropped. Unfortunately, issues of sexual violence are not treated very well and it is 
often an ordeal to see such a case through to the end. However, we hope that even the 
starting of the case has sent a clear signal to the bank that such practices should never 
be tolerated.

We remind people also of the repressive response of Citibank towards activists of ZSP and 
other workers when exposing the situation. The bank tried to start a criminal case against 
members of the union, who were threatened and questioned by police. We think that the bank 
would be better off taking definitive measures against harrassment at their workplace; 
since this success, more workers have contacted us with the intent of suing the bank.

The union congratulates those who took on the corporate giant and stood up for their 
rights and dignity. The bank used high-priced lawyers who made all sorts of insinuations 
in court and it took strong nerves to get through the process. ZSP feels that people are 
often mistreated at work and then further discouraged by many factors to get any 
reasonable solution to the problem. Many companies react to complaints by further 
harrassing employees or by trying to put the blame on them. Due to our unfavourable legal 
realities, few workers are able to get any resolution through the courts. This compounds 
the feeling of helplessness that many feel when they are faced with harrassment or 
discrimination at work.
The union is committed to the struggle of all workers against discrimination of whatever sort.

We send another warning to Citibank that they had better take this issue more seriously 
and stop the harrassment! All people deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity in 
their workplace!

ZSP Multi-Union Branch, Warsaw

http://zsp.net.pl/workers-win-against-citibank-discrimination-and-mobbing
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