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Before you start you should know

Lech Wałęsa, the first President in the Third Republic of Poland elected by direct universal suffrage, was a leader of the “Solidarity” movement before he became the president.
The “Solidarity” movement played a vitalvitalvital role in overthrowing the communist regime.

You will learn

You will be able to explain why the Independent Self‑Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” was established.
You will understand the role it played in overthrowingto overthrowoverthrowing the communist regime.
You will be able to explain the cooperation between the workers and the intellectuals during strikes on the Coast.
You will understand the functions of trade unions nowadays.

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Nagranie dostępne na portalu epodreczniki.pl

nagranie abstraktu

In July 1980, price increases in meat and cured meatcured meatcured meat were announced, which triggeredto triggertriggered strikes in the largest production plantsproduction plantproduction plants in Poland. On August 14, the strike began in the Gdańsk Shipyard, in which, apart from economic postulates, they demanded the reinstatementreinstatementreinstatement of Anna Walentynowicz and Lech Wałęsa, who had been dismissed for their activity in trade unions. At that time, the Inter‑Enterprise Strike Committee was formed, headed by Wałęsa. The Committee formulated 21 demands regardingregardingregarding, among others, the consent to the establishment of trade unions independent of the party, guaranteeing the right to strike, and the release of political prisoners. The authorities withdrewto withdrawwithdrew the price increases, but did not want to agree to political demands. Therefore, a general strike began throughout the entire Coast. Workers were supported by intellectuals, including Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Bronisław Geremek, Andrzej Wielowieyski. They advised the protesters on legal and economic issues, but all the important decisions were made by the striking workers.

Finally, on August 31, 1980, pressured by the strikes across the country, the deputy prime minister Mieczysław Jagielski, representing the authorities, and Lech Wałęsa, on behalf ofon behalf ofon behalf of the striking workers, signed an agreement ending strikes on the Coast.

The authorities have agreed to implementto implementto implement the 21 postulates, including the registration of the nationwide Independent Self‑Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ “Solidarność”).

The widget below presents the August 1980 events almost day by day. Find out what was happening on the Coast at that time

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Oś czasu przedstawiająca przebieg wydarzeń w lecie 1980 roku. 1. 8-11 July. Because of the increase in meat prices, workers from the PZL Świdnik (Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze Świdnik) plant started a strike. In the following days, employees of other Lublin factories joined them. 2. 14 August. The beginning of a strike at the Gdańsk Shipyard organized by the Free Trade Unions of the Coast. The strike committee demanded the reinstatement of Anna Walentynowicz and Lech Wałęsa, the erection of the 1970 Victims' Monument, the guarantee of non-repression of the strikers, the pay rises by 2 thousand zlotys and family benefits similar to those of militia. The shipyard's management only agreed to the first three demands. The occupation strike began. Do opisu dołączono zdjęcie przedstawiające Lecha Wałęsę i Annę Walentynowicz w czasie mszy świętej w Stoczni Gdańskiej. 3. 16 August. The shipyard's management agreed to a raise of 1,500 zlotys. The end of the strike has been announced. A delegation of 21 plants with Bogdan Lis and Andrzej Gwiazda appeared in the shipyard. They urged for the continuation of the strike. A Municipal Strike Committee was established with Wałęsa as chairman. 4. 17 August. In front of the shipyard gate, priest Henryk Jankowski celebrated the Holy Mass. After the mass, in the place where the workers fell in 1970, a wooden cross was dug in. The Strike Committee was transformed into an Inter-Enterprise one. The final version of the 21 demands has been drawn up. Opis opatrzono fotografią przedstawiającą księdza Jankowskiego modlącego się wraz z uczestnikami strajku. 5. 18 August. A strike began at the Adolf Warski Shipyard in Szczecin. Na zdjęciu obok strajkujący w Stoczni. 6. 21 August. The Government Commission with Mieczysław Jagielski arrived in Gdańsk, and with Kazimierz Barcikowski to Szczecin. The strikes have spread throughout the country. Na zdjęciu obok znajduje się delegacja rządowa, która zmierza na rozmowy z przedstawicielami strajkujących. 7. 23 August. The Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee expert commission was formed. The first issue of the “Solidarity” Strike Information Bulletin was printed. Bogdan Pietruszka presented the project of a memorial in honor of those killed in 1970. In the evening, talks with the government delegation began in the OHS room. Na zdjęciu obok obrady Międzyzakładowego Komitetu Strajkowego, mówcą jest Lech Wałęsa. Obok niego stoi Bogdan Lis. W tle znajduje się model Pomnika Poległych Stoczniowców, którego postawienie jest jednym z żądań strajkujących. 8. 26 August. The phones were unblocked and talks with the government delegation were resumed. 9. 27 August. Upper and Lower Silesia mines and a number of large industrial plants in Poland, for example "Ursus" joined the strike. Na zdjęciu obok znajdują się traktory „Ursusy”. 10. 29 August. An Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee established in Manifest Lipcowy coal mine was set up in Upper Silesia. 11. 30 August. An agreement was signed in Szczecin. In Gdansk, the the release of all political prisoners was a condition of signing of the agreement. Na fotografii obok ratyfikacja Porozumień Sierpniowych w Szczecinie. 12. 31 August. An annex with a list of names of people arrested in the last two weeks was added to the point about the release of political prisoners by the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee presidency. Jagielski issued a statement that everyone would be released within one day. At 5 pm an agreement was signed between the government commission and the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee representing over 700 production plants. Na zdjęciu obok mural przedstawiający moment podpisania Porozumień w Gdańsku. 13. 17 September. Representatives of the Inter-enterprise Founding Committees and Inter-enterprise Workers' Commissions from all over Poland appointed the national Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity" and the National Coordinating Commission. The name was proposed by Karol Modzelewski. 14. 24 September. “Solidarity” submitted a registration application and a statute to the Voivodeship Court in Warsaw. 15. October. Communist authorities began preparations for the imposition of martial law.

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Exercise 1

Read the selected postulates of strikers in August 1980 and assign them to an appropriate category.

Introduction of the principles of selection of the managerial staff on the basis of qualifications, not party affiliation (…)., Release of all political prisoners (…)., Guaranteeing the right to strike and the safety of strikers and their supporters., Ensuring automatic pay rise parallel to the price increase and the fall in the value of money., Increase of the basic salary of each employee by 2,000 zlotys per month (…)., Abolishment of repressions for political and religious beliefs., Introduction of all Saturdays free from work (…)., Acceptance of free trade unions independent of parties and employers (...)., Observance of the guaranteed in the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic freedom of speech, print, publications (…)., Ensuring the full supply of the internal market with food items, and only exporting surpluses.

Political postulates
Economic postulates

Striking shipyard workers did not have free access to the media, where they could present their postulates. That's why they hung them on the gate of the shipyard so that other citizens could read them and ... pass them on. They also ensured their will to fight in the slogans placed on the walls of the shipyard. Look at the archival photos and think about what the protesters wanted to convey in these slogans.

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Czarno-biała fotografia przedstawiająca transparenty wywieszone na murze. Znajdują się na nich hasła "niech żyją wolne związki zawodowe", "trzymajmy się razem", "my stoczniowcy się nie damy, bo kraj cały jest za nami" czy "niech żyje sprawiedliwość". — Source: Tadeusz Kłapyta, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

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Czarno-biała fotografia dachów budynków stoczni w Gdańsku wykonana przez płot z siatki. Znajduje się na niej transparent "człowiek rodzi się i żyje wolnym". — Source: Stanisław Szukalski, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

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Czarno-biała fotografia przedstawiająca transparenty wywieszone na murze stoczni w Gdańsku. Znajdują się na nich hasła "niech żyje sprawiedliwość", "wolność dla politycznych", "strajk solidarności nadal trwa", "nasz rząd myśli i się łudzi, że stoczniowcom to się znudzi". — Source: Tadeusz Kłapyta, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

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Czarno-biała fotografia przedstawiająca transparenty wywieszone na murze stoczni w Gdańsku. Znajdują się na nich hasła "strajkować nie przestaniemy, póki swego nie dopniemy". — Source: Tadeusz Kłapyta, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

To commemorate August '80, the European Solidarity Center was established in Gdańsk. The photos and documents from that period collected in the center, include the original table with the 21 postulates. The center's mission is to promote the ideals of the Solidarity movement – democracy, an open and solidary society and a culture of dialogue.

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Fotografia przedstawiająca Europejskie Centrum Solidarności w Gdańsku. Budynek z czerwonej cegły z aluminiowymi akcentami. Kubatura budynku nowoczesna. Budynek otoczony betonowym chodnikiem poprzecinanym trawnikami. — European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk
Source: Justyna Malinowska, licencja: CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Zdjęcie przedstawiające stałą wystawę w Europejskim Centrum Solidarności. Znajdują się na niej eksponaty ze Stoczni Gdańskiej, m in. kaski robotników, suwnica, tablice z postulatami strajkujących w 1980 roku. — Permanent exhibition of the European Solidarity Center, Room A – The Birth of Solidarity
Source: Yanek, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

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Fotografia przedstawiająca zwiedzających w holu ECS. W pomieszczeniu znajdują się posadzone drzewa i inne rośliny, ruchome schody oraz miejsca do odpoczynku . — Central part of the European Solidarity Center, winter garden
Source: Yanek, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Today the role of trade unions is much smaller, but still important. The two largest trade union centres are the NSZZ “Solidarność” and OPZZ (All‑Poland Alliance of Trade Unions). There are also hundreds of smaller organizations. Trade unions often effectively defend rights, jobs and sometimes privileges of their members.

Trade unions are non‑governmental organizations established to represent and defend employees in workplaces. According to the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, they can organize protests, demonstrations, and even strikes.

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Exercise 2

Read carefully the extract from the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, which regulates the right of association and activities of trade unions. Complete the missing words.

trade unions, freedom of peaceful, statute, contrary, be ensured, be guaranteed, everyone

The Constitution of the Republic of Poland
Chapter II
Article 57
The ...................................... assembly and participation in such assemblies shall be ensured to ....................................... Limitations upon such freedoms may be imposed by .......................................
Article 58
The freedom of association shall ...................................... to everyone.
Associations whose purposes or activities are ...................................... to the Constitution or statutes shall be prohibited. (...).
Article 59
The freedom of association in ......................................, socio-occupational organizations of farmers, and in employers' organizations shall .......................................

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Exercise 3

Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Then do the vocabulary exercise. Match the pairs: English and Polish words.

spowodować, wywołać, fabryka, zakłady produkcyjne, wycofać, dotyczący, w imieniu, obalić, wprowadzić w życie, wdrożyć, przywrócenie do pracy

to overthrow
to trigger
production plant
reinstatement
regarding
to withdraw
on behalf of
to implement

Keywords

Independent Self‑Governing Trade Union “Solidarity”, All‑Poland Alliance of Trade Unions, 21 postulates, strike, trade union, protester, right to strike, political prisoner