Caring for its employees, their families and the local community, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, through the JSW Foundation, has decided to launch a campaign under the name “STOP THE HATE! Don’t blacken the miners!” aimed at changing the society’s attitudes towards the inhabitants of Upper Silesia, especially miners. The campaign is supported by well known names from the world of sport, film, television and music who are associated with the region and the mining community, including, among others, actress Sonia Bohosiewicz, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, European 400m champion, members of stand-up groups Kabaret Młodych Panów and Łowcy.B, radio and television presenter Mariusz Kałamaga, music band Feel with its leader Piotr Kupicha, music trio Frele and the Polish national football team player, Jastrzębie-born Kamil Glik, who has become the face of the campaign. None of them charges any remuneration for participation in the campaign.
The initiative is a response to the negative emotions that appeared during the coronavirus pandemic and result from various factors, among others, concerns about the future and health of the closest ones. It is the society’s natural defense mechanism at such times to look for a scapegoat that can be blamed for the situation. The pretext for assigning this role to the residents of the Silesian Voivodship, in particular those associated with mining, was the increased number of coronavirus tests carried out in Silesia and Silesian mines. The negative emotions have been manifested mainly in the Internet, where users, attracted by anonymity, have been vilifying miners, their families and the inhabitants of the whole region. Unfortunately, the hate has already gone beyond the Internet and cases of discrimination and aggression have been recorded in the streets of Polish cities.
Despite the appeals of various Silesian institutions, organizations and mass media, the hate does not stop. – We believe that our campaign will restore the true, positive image of Silesia, the miners and the mining industry, says Włodzimierz Hereźniak, President of the Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa Management Board.
The main challenge in stopping the wave of hatred is the lack of understanding of the nature of the miners’ work among the society. – We stood up to defend our employees and their families. It is them who build the value of the company and it is our duty to ensure their safety and stable place to work and live, says Artur Dyczko, president of the JSW Foundation and vice-president and head of the Crisis Management Team at JSW SA. – The campaign also follows from the feeling of unity and closeness with the local community. It is an attempt to address the deepening antagonisms and discrimination against the population of the region in which we work and live - emphasizes Artur Dyczko.
After the outbreak of the pandemic, the Crisis Management Team and the JSW Management Board immediately introduced the guidelines issued by the state authorities and the World Health Organization minimizing the risk of infection. Currently, unprecedented, wide-scale COVID-19 testing is carried out among the Company’s miners which will make it possible to eliminate the risk.
