A wave of actions is being planned to protest against the actions of Lionbridge corporation and in solidarity with the independent union movement.

LIONBRIDGE – STOP REPRESSING TRADE-UNION MEMBERS!

In December 2007, workers in the Polish office of Lionbridge Technologies - a multinational company - created a trade union based on non-hierarchical principles. On Feb. 12, 2008, Jakub G., a union representative was dismissed without notice. The dismissal came shortly after the announcement to management that a union had been formed in the workplace and despite the fact that Jakub was protected by Polish Labor Law as an elected union representative.

Jakub was warned by members of the management that having a union would make the company "less competitive". The company fired Jakub based on false allegations. They accused Jakub of stealing secret information and publishing it on the internet. No proof of that allegation was given and another person admitted to writing the article which was based entirely on information publicly available on the internet.

Incidents of firing union members in disregard of the law are fairly common in Poland, including firing protected union officials. Most are fired shortly after the creation of the union.

Jakub has filed a court case against Lionbridge at the Polish Labour Court. The first hearing will take place on July 4th.

The Union of Syndicalists (ZSP) is organizing a picket in Warsaw and pickets are planned in front of different Lionbridge offices around the world in the coming weeks. See www.lionbridge.zsp.net.pl for dates and times. The page should be updated as times are set.
Nasty faxes can be sent to corporate HQ in the US:

Rory Cowan, CEO
Lionbridge Technologies
1050 Winter Street
Suite 2300
Waltham, MA 02451
Fax: +1 781 434 6034