In the Suwałki Heat Energy Company (Podlaskie Province), an investigation is underway to determine who is responsible for turning on the sound recording in cameras located outside the buildings of one of the company's facilities. This happened after local residents reported to PEC about the vulgar language used by employees. The matter is being investigated. The company's president claims that only “crackling and background sounds” were recorded.
Suwałki councillor Bogdan Bezdziecki said at the last session of the city council that he was approached by employees of one of the branches of Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej in Suwałki, where – as the councillor put it – “some unpleasant thing happened”.
– You could say that the employees were, in a sense, wiretapped for some time, he said.
The case concerns employees of the Suwałki Heat Power Company (illustrative photo) PEC Suwalki
Councillor: serious violation of the provisions of the labour code
He explained that the cameras on the company's premises that record images were set up so that they also recorded sound – i.e. employee conversations. Without their knowledge.
– The matter was reported to the president. Although the president distanced himself from all this and apologized to the employees, what happened happened. This is a serious violation of the provisions of the labor code, as well as the personal data protection code – stated the councilor, requesting an explanation of the matter.
President: it was about obscene language
Immediately after, President Czesław Renkiewicz took the floor and stated that PEC had received complaints from residents about obscene language allegedly used by the company's employees. And to check this, the recording was turned on.
– The matter requires further clarification and imposing consequences on who should bear them – the president noted.
President Czesław Renkiewicz: the case requires further clarificationSuwałki City Hall
The sound was recorded by four cameras
PEC President Michał Buczyński says in an interview with tvn24.pl that the investigation into the matter is nearing its end.
– The fact is that – without the knowledge of the company's management – sound recording was started by four cameras installed outside the buildings of one of our facilities – he informs.
The PEC buildings are located in the middle of a housing estate
He adds that previously, residents of nearby blocks of flats complained that they heard obscene language from PEC employees.
– There were several such reports. Residents claimed that they supposedly could not open their windows because of the language. I do not know if this is true or fabricated. Our buildings are located in the middle of the housing estate on Emilii Plater Street. There are benches there, on which various people sit. So it is not certain that it was our employees who used obscene words – explains the president.
There will be consequences
He reports that no conversations can be heard on the recordings, only “some crackling and background sounds”.
– Nevertheless, the recordings were made contrary to the procedure in force in our company. We will therefore take appropriate steps against the person or people who are responsible for it – says Buczyński.
Main image source: PEC Suwalki