August 1980 strikes in Poland

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
August strikes in the Lenin shipyard in Gdańsk, 1980

The August 1980 strikes in Poland were a series of work stoppages in the communist-ruled People's Republic of Poland .

In fact, the first strikes in Świdnik and Lublin took place at the beginning of July, known as the Lublin July , and the first protest work stoppages took place in this region as early as the spring of 1980. It went down in history through the strikes on the Baltic coast . As a result of the Lublin events, the strikes spread to neighboring regions and eventually strikes took place in numerous cities across the country. Probably the most important strike was called on August 14th by the Free Trade Unions ( Wolne Związki Zawodowe Wybrzeża ) at the Gdańsk shipyard (among other things, they called for the withdrawal of Anna Walentynowicz's dismissal , a wage increase, the construction of a memorial for the victims from December 1970 ) , which was joined by delegations from companies on strike from other cities.

In August 1980, a 15-month period of relative freedom began in Polish society and a social movement emerged that quickly transformed into Solidarność . This phase ended with the imposition of martial law in December 1981 . Overall, the strikes are an important milestone on the way to the system change that ultimately led to the collapse of the People's Republic of Poland and the establishment of the Third Polish Republic .

timeline

  • August 14 - Jerzy Borowczak , Bogdan Felski and Ludwik Prądzyński , led by Bogdan Borusewicz, call a strike at the Lenin shipyard in Gdańsk. Lech Wałęsa arrives at the struck shipyard . The workers demand: the return to work of Anna Walentynowicz and Lech Wałęsa, the erection of a memorial to the victims of December 1970, the guarantee of the safety of the strikers, wage increases, price increases and family allowances.
  • August 16 - the management of the Gdańsk shipyard agrees to meet the demands of the shipyard workers. The strike committee decides to end the strike. Lech Wałęsa announces a solidarity strike at the suggestion of other striking companies. Henryka Krzywonos, Ewa Osowska , Alina Pienkowska and Anna Walentynowicz stop shipyard workers who are leaving . An inter-company strike committee ( Międzyzakładowy Komitet Strajkowy - MKS ) is convened.
  • August 17th - 21 demands of the MKS are drawn up, a St. Mass read by priest Henryk Jankowski , the prelate of the Danzig parish of St. Brigida, with the participation of thousands of people, on the square in front of the main gate to the shipyard is a memorial cross for the victims of December 1970.
  • August 19 - those in power try to break the solidarity of the strikers, "competing" FMD organizations are created. The MKS of the Gdańsk shipyard unites 253 companies.
  • August 21 - a government delegation with Mieczysław Jagielski comes to Gdańsk, the strike is joined by companies in Elbląg and Słupsk . The Gdansk MKS represents 350 companies. The government delegation tries to start talks disregarding the FMD.
  • August 22nd - MFS calls on government to open talks. In Szczecin, a government delegation starts talks with the local MKS, which represents 97 companies.
  • August 23rd - the MKS represents 388 companies, a government delegation arrives in Gdansk and starts talks. The first issue of the strike information bulletin “ Solidarność ” appears.
  • August 25th - a press conference will be held by MKS spokesman Lech Bądkowski . He informs that the calls will not be continued until the blocked telephone connections are released.
  • August 26th - new talks with the government delegation take place on the subject of the formation of free trade unions. The government delegation is leaving it to reform the previous trade union associations. An FMD is being built in Wroclaw , solidarity strikes with the Gdańsk shipyard break out in Krakow , Warsaw, Poznań , Łódź , Rzeszów and other cities.
  • August 28th - a delegation from Wroclaw arrives in Gdansk. Lech Wałęsa proposes that the agreement made in Gdansk be carried over to the whole country. The rulers respond by arresting members of the opposition.
  • August 29th - the talks with the government delegation are at a dead end, the crucial question is the establishment of free trade unions. An FMD delegation from Bydgoszcz comes to Gdansk , mines in Upper Silesia are on strike.
  • August 30th - the MKS signs an agreement with the government delegation. At the Gdańsk shipyard, parts of the 21 requirements are gradually being recognized. Lech Wałęsa calls for an end to the repression against the opposition. The MKS does not decide to continue the talks until the moment the political prisoners are released.
  • August 31st - an agreement is signed between the Gdańsk Shipyard MKS, which represents 700 companies, and the government delegation.

Most important strikes in the People's Republic of Poland

Others

The Catholic Church in Poland had a special role in Poland throughout the period of communism. The election of a Pole as Pope ( John Paul II ) strengthened this role.

In 1979 the oil price rose in the wake of the second oil price crisis ; this contributed to a recession in many countries (at that time there was stagflation in many countries ).

In December 1979 the Soviet Union started the war in Afghanistan . This and the armament of the Soviet Union with SS-20 missiles contributed to further exacerbating the Cold War . Leonid Brezhnev ruled Moscow at the time of the August strike .

Web links

Commons : August 1980 Strikes in Poland  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Footnotes