History
The tannery was established in the years 1931/32 as the company „Stefan Marco i S-ka” by the half Czech half Polish Stefan Marco. He took advantage of the closeness of energy (there was power plant in the area), cheap labour and traditions of tanning industry in this region. Archival documents reveal that he did not treat his workers right. They had no social rights, were called to work when the orders were coming and when there was quieter period they were sent home with no income. This caused the wave of strikes in the years 1934-37.
The company was ruled by Marco until the Second World War, during the war and just after. It was very unusual because the reality after the war changed considerably. Many remembered his bad treatment towards workers but many also appreciated that he was rescuing people of Jewish origin from being sent to concentration camps and local people from being deported to work camps. After the war he was asked to rule the tannery in the new political situation.
On the 1st January 1947 incorporated company „Garbarnia” became state company. It was incorporated by Cracow Tannery (Krakowskie Zakłady Garbarskie) as Szczakowa Tannery. This situation lasted until 1958. In the next year „Szczakowa” was incorporated by industrial complex PZS Chełmek and remained its member until the year 1989.
After the changes of the year 1989 and overthrowing communism Szczakowa still remains state company, it is independent from PZS Chełmek but depends on the local authorities from Katowice. Next years are very miserable to the tannery Szczakowa’s debts are growing and production is becoming less and less profitable. In 1995 year the company is to be closed. However the then governor of the region of Silisia, Mr Ciszak is against it. With assistance of Mr Adamczyk who was ruling tannery Szczakowa for many years he tries to prevent Szczakowa from bankruptcy. At the beginning of the year 1998 the company was bought by current owners. Since then the company is not only profitable but also became the leader on the Polish market.
