After more than 4 decades of presence in Poland, Herlitz/Pelikan plant in Baranów close Poznań will end its operations. This decision is the consequence of the acquisition of the Polish company Herlitz by the French Hamelin Group, known for producing paper and office items. According to the epoznan.pl portal, group exemptions are planned to affect the employees of this plant.
Official confirmation of dismissal
Hamelin Group confirmed information about group dismissals, and a preliminary announcement was sent to the Regional Labour Office in Poznań. The plant in Baranów, which has operated for 32 years, will be closed. In an interview with WP Finance, Zbigniew Winnielak, sales manager in the Hamelin group, noted that the company is not yet able to find the exact number of people released. At the same time, he informed that any workers could be given employment opportunities at Hamelin, and for others a support programme is being prepared to aid them find fresh employment.
"Now Hamelin is incapable to find precisely how many people will be covered by group exemptions, as the details of this plan are being worked on. surely any employees will be given the chance to work at Hamelin. In addition, we are developing a support programme that will aid another employees to find fresh employment," says Zbigniew Więcilak.
Hamelin strategy: Unification of marketplace activities
The acquisition of Herlitz is part of the wider Hamelin Group strategy. The French company has decided to harmonise the offer and integration of activities in individual countries. Depending on the circumstantial characteristics of the market, Hamelin uses different approaches – from the merger of local companies to the liquidation of any of them. In the case of Herlitz plant in Baranów, the decision to liquidate was made.
‘Because the activities of the 2 groups mostly overlap, in individual countries The Hamelin Group adopts different models of unification – sometimes a combination of local companies, sometimes the liquidation of 1 of them."
Group exemptions: How many people will be affected?
Although at this point there is no precise information about the number of people to be covered by group exemptions, the employees of the plant are afraid that even a fewer twelve people will be affected. The French buyer does not yet supply accurate data, but it is expected to be crucial exemptions, given the scale of the planned changes.
History of Herlitz/Pelikan plant in Baranów
The plant in Baranów was 1 of the key places of production of paper and writing articles, which Poles have known for decades. Herlitz and Pelikan are brands that many of us associate with school times – notebooks with herlitz logo or Pelikan feathers were permanent elements in student backpacks. Unfortunately, after 32 years of operation, the plant will be closed, which means the end of an era for workers and consumers.
How will decommissioning affect the labour market?
The closure of the plant will affect the local labour market. Group redundancies in Baranów are a signal that economical changes in the paper products sector are inevitable. The most crucial thing for the employees of this plant is to find fresh employment, which they can number on with Hamelin's support. The Hamelin Group seeks to minimise the negative effects of dismissals by offering part of the jobs in its another facilities and support programmes.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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