Polish News reported the miners protested outside the Katowice headquarters of the mine’s owner, Polska Kompania Weglowa.

The coal miner trade union said they were in for the long haul and demanded new jobs for miners should be prepared before the mines were shutdown.

The coal company’s president told the protestors that redundant miners would be assisted by the state in their search of jobs and retraining, but the crowds were not appeased, Polish News said.