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Solidarity 1980s

Rio

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Solidarity - Poland

Established in Sept. 1980 at the Gdansk Shipyards - Solidarity was a labour trade union instrumental in the eventual collapse of the USSR and the catalyst for changes which would transform Poland from an oppressive Soviet satellite into the EU member democracy it is in the present day.

 

Solidarity movement - spreading anti-communist ideas, inspiring political action throughout rest of Communist Bloc

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Causes

Didn't happen overnight - was the result of of government and economic difficulties which had continued to worsen over a decade.

 

Poland's 'shortage' economy - stress on the lives of people unable to purchase daily necessities e.g. bread, toilet paper

 

1980 - Poland facing economic crisis - had to raise price of goods while curbing the growth of wages. - the "last straw" - strikes spread across the country.

 

In Gdansk shipworkers unified - Lech Walesa (leader) galvanises workers into action.

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Solidarity Spreads

Despite nation-wide censorship and the severance of all phone connections between Gdansk and the rest of the country, several underground presses succeeded in covering the story and spreading the shipyard workers' message throughout Poland and the Eastern Bloc.

 

On August 16th, several other strike committees joined the Gdansk shipyard workers and the following day 21 demands of the unified strike committee were put forward:

 

  • legal formation of independent trade unions
  • end to media censorship
  • the right to strike
  • new rights for the Church
  • freeing of political prisoners
  • improvements in the national health system

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  •  August 18th, the Szczecin shipyard joined the Gdansk shipyard - wave of strikes along the Polish coast. Most of Poland was affected by factory shutdowns  

 

  • Situation in Gdansk gaining international support and media coverage - workers able to hold out longer than many of their compatriots. 

 

  • Poland's Soviet government capitulated - sends a Governmental Commission to Gdansk: signs an agreement ratifying many of the workers' demands.

 

  • This agreement, known as the Gdansk Agreement, became recognised as the first step in dismantling Soviet power.People now have ability through Trade Unions and strikes to introduce democratic change to communist system.

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  • Upsurge of momentum -form first independent labour union in whole of Soviet Bloc - millions of people rallya round and join the union. 80% of workforce and 1/4 of population.

 

  • With the country behind them, Solidarity slowly transformed from a trade union to a full-on revolutionary movement, using strikes and other acts of protest to force change in government policies. The movement was careful, however, never to use violence, for fear of encouraging and validating harsh reprimands from the government.

 

 

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Crackdown

  • After the Gdansk Agreement - USSR stepped up pressure on  Polish government - which continued to lose its control over Polish society.
  • Hire General Jaruzelski - crackdown - martial law, arrests, censorship, police put down strikes etc.

 

  • Solidarity goes underground.

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Solidarity Strikes Back

  • Gorbachev - 'Sinatra Doctrine' etc - release of Solidarity prisoners
  • Still persecuted but manage to rally - become a party in 1989 - run in elections - win 99/100 seats they contest

 

  • Communists can't get enough support - Solidarity figure elected Polich leader 

 

  • Communism collapses in Poland. 

 

Source: http://www.gdansk-life.com/poland/solidarity

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