Guide on personal data processing by trade unions to be published by the Polish SA

On July 31, 2024, a seminar entitled "Personal Data Processing by Trade Unions: From Theory to Practice towards a Guide" was held at the seat of the Personal Data Protection Office. The event was organised by the Polish SA in collaboration with the Department of Labour Law and Social Policy of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Jagiellonian University. It was intended for invited representatives of trade unions and trade union organisations. The seminar aimed to identify areas where issues related to the right to privacy and personal data protection in trade union activities pose the most challenges. The meeting inaugurated a scientific research project, carried out in the Department of Labour Law and Social Policy at the Jagiellonian University by Dominika Dörre-Kolasa, PhD.

During the meeting, Mirosław Wróblewski, the President of the Polish SA, announced the creation of a separate guide on personal data protection dedicated to trade unions. The new guide, "Conducting Trade Union Activities in Compliance with GDPR," will be prepared in collaboration with the Social Team of Experts to the President of the Personal Data Protection Office. The idea for the guide emerged following public consultations on the guide called "Personal Data Protection in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers." These consultations revealed that many topics concerning trade unions required further clarification. After analysing the situation together with the Social Team of Experts, the President of the Polish SA concluded that a dedicated guide was necessary.

"Today's seminar and the scientific research project led by Dominika Dörre-Kolasa, PhD, will enable the Polish SA to develop a position based on practical experiences in applying the regulations. Analysing the topic from both theoretical and practical perspectives will ensure that the final guide meets market demand and comprehensively addresses all aspects related to personal data protection by trade unions. This project aligns with the ongoing review and updates of the Polish SA’s guides," said Mirosław Wróblewski, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, during the seminar's opening.

Dominika Dörre-Kolasa, PhD, from the Department of Labour Law and Social Policy at the Jagiellonian University and Professor Łukasz Pisarczyk from the Department of Labour Law and Civil Procedure at the University of Zielona Góra began the seminar by discussing key concepts related to personal data protection, particularly in the context of trade union activities. The ensuing discussion included the participation of an attorney Mirosław Gumularz, the chairman of the Social Team of Experts to the President of the Personal Data Protection Office. After the speakers' presentations, a panel discussion took place featuring Weronika Kowalik, Head of the Legislation Division in the Case Law and Legislation Department; Monika Krasińska, Director of the Case Law and Legislation Department at the Polish SA; Dominika Dörre-Kolasa, PhD, from the Jagiellonian University; and Krzysztof Wygoda from the University of Wrocław. During the panel, various issues and controversies in trade union activities were discussed.