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In 1980 Lech Walesa and the Polish people started
a chain of events that ended the
thirty-five- year-long rule of Communism
in Poland.
"Communism was like a big truck chugging up hill when Michail
Gorbachev became the Soviet Union's 'driver.' Then—Walesa
joked in his Montana State University speech in Bozeman,
October 17, 2002—the Polish people unscrewed the engine."
"Communism was a terrible system
that forced people to work by pointing a gun to their heads. Without
a single shot this monster was defeated. If any shots were heard,
they were champaigne corks.
"I am deeply confident in you, educated young people, Walesa
said. Wherever you are, you can influence the outcome of events.
"Sometimes if you fail in life, you can
even get a Nobel Prize"—Walesa finished his speech
with the Solidarity trademark two-finger
victory salute.
| translated by:
E.V. Butkiewicz-Tame |
Lech Walesa on the First Day of Protests
in the Gdansk Shipyard
HISTORY OF SOLIDARITY
1980
July, 1st
Polish communist government introduces so-called "commercial
prices" (market prices) for meat products in factory eateries.
This decision provokes increasing wave of workers' protests.
July/August
A wave of strikes runs through the country. Jacek Kuron says:
"Do not burn the committees! Establish your own!"
August 14th
Strike in the Gdansk Shipyard starts, after two days it becomes
a general strike of all companies in the region, then spreads
in all of the country. "The Polish August" has began.
August 17th
The Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee (MKS), led by an electrician
Lech Walesa, announces 21 postulates, including the right to establish
free trade unions, freedom of speech and the right to strike.
August 24th
The Plenary of the Central Committee of the Polish Communidst
United Workers Party (PZPR) dismisses eight close associates of
Edward Gierek (PZPR General Secretary), including Prime Minister
Edward Babiuch.
August 30th
The Governmental commission ratifies the agreement with the MKS
in Szczecin.
August 31st
The agreement is ratified in Gdansk. At the gate of the shipyard
Lech Walesa says: "We have free and independent trade unions!"
September 17th
Representatives of over 30 regional founding committees adopt
a resolution establishing an Independent and Self-governing Trade
Union (NSZZ) called "Solidarnosc".
November 10th
The Supreme Court acknowledges the Constitution of NSZZ "Solidarnosc".
In 1981 about 9.5 million people became members of the union.
1981
February 11th
Former Minister of Defence, Wojciech Jaruzelski, is appointed
Prime Minister of Poland.
March 19th
"Bydgoszcz provocation"—special group of Security
Service (SB) assaulted representatives of "Solidarnosc,"
including Jan Rulewski, president of the regional board. A threat
of confrontation is mounts, especially dangerous due to military
manoeuvres with participation of the Soviet army.
March 27th
4-hour general warning strike in all of Poland.
March 30th
"Warsaw agreement" between the Government and "Solidarnosc"
ends the Bydgoszcz conflict. "Solidarnosc" cancels the
planned general strike.
September 5th—10th, September 26th—October
7th
First National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
elects Lech Walesa as the President of the Union and adopts "Message
to the Working People of Eastern Europe".
October 17th
Plenary of the PZPR elects general Wojciech Jaruzelski as First
Secretary of the communist party.
December 11th—12th
Meeting of the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
in Gdansk.
December 13th
On the night 12th and 13th of December, by the decree of the National
State Council, martial law is enforced in Poland. Military Council
of National Salvation (WRON) presided by general Wojciech Jaruzelski
takes over. All NGO's organisations, including NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
are suspended; about 10 thousand union and opposition activists
are interred in detention camps.
December 14th
General strikes in companies, mines, and steelworks factories,
shipyards and ports all over the country. The strikes are contained
by ZOMO (riot militia), anti-terrorist units and panzer army.
Primartial Committee for Help for the Detained established in
Warsaw as the first of thirty six
committees organised in other cities and dioceses across Poland.
December 16th
9 miners are killed as a result of ZOMO assault in "Wujek"
coal-mine.
December 17th
First illegal, underground paper, "Wiadomosci," published
in Warsaw.
December 18th
Pope John Paul II appeals from the Vatican, Rome to stop bloodshed
in Poland.
December 1981—January 1982
First martial courts. The leaders of the strikes sentenced to
2 to 4 years in prison.
1982
February 11th
First issue of "Tygodnik Mazowsze" (weekly) published
in Warsaw
April 12th
First free radio "Solidarnosc" broadcast in Warsaw.
April 22nd
Establishment of Temporary Co-ordination Commission (TKK) of NSZZ
"Solidarnosc" led by Lech Walesa (and: Zbigniew Bujak,
Mazowsze Region, Wladyslaw Frasyniuk, Lower Silesia Region, Wladyslaw
Hardek, Malopolska Region, Bogdan Lis, Gdansk Region)
May 1st
Thousands participate in 1st May independent demonstrations in
Gdansk, Bialystok, Torun, Lodz, Szczecin and other cities.
May 3rd
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" organises other demonstrations in
Warsaw, Cracow, Torun, Elblag, Gliwice, Lublin, Gdansk, Szczecin
and other cities. Brutal interventions of communist ZOMO.
August 31st
Anniversary of ratification of August Agreements. Demonstrations
in Gdansk, Wroclaw, Cracow, Katowice, Szczecin, Gorzow Wielkopolski
and other cities. Armed intervention of the communist militia
in Lubin (copper basin), three dead, many arrested.
October 8th
Sejm adopts new Act on Trade Unions. All trade unions existing
before 13 December 1981 dissolved. Street demonstrations in Gdansk.
November 12th
Lech Walesa released from detention camp.
December 31st
Martial law suspended by the resolution of the National Council.
1983
October 5th
Lech Walesa awarded Peace Nobel Prize.
1984
October 19th
Jerzy Popieluszko, priest of "Solidarnosc" in Warsaw,
hijacked and murdered by officers of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs.
November 24th
Establishment of All-Polish Agreement of Trade Unions (OPZZ),
organisation subservient to the communist authorities. According
to official propaganda about 6 million people become members.
1985
June
OPZZ takes over the assets of other trade unions (about 3.4 billion
zl). Estimated value of the assets of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
was 153 million zl plus financial means of 613 million zl and
64 thousand USD.
1986
September 11th
Amnesty for all persons sentenced or arrested for "crimes
and violations against the state and public order" declared
by general Czeslaw Kiszczak. 225 political prisoners set free.
September 29th
Lech Walesa openly appoints the Temporary Council of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
composed of Bogdan Borusewicz, Zbigniew Bujak, Wladyslaw Frasyniuk,
Tadeusz Jedynak, Bogdan Lis, Janusz Palubicki, Jozef Pinior. The
beginning of the process of coming out into the open of regional/enterprise
structures of the union.
Autumn
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes member organisation of the
ICFTU and WCL.
1988
April/August
Another wave of nationawide strikes in Poland.
August 20th
The Committee for Defence of the Country (KOK) begins preparations
for introduction of martial law.
August 27th
General Czeslaw Kiszczak, Minister of the Interior, in a televised
speech, proposes Round Table negotiations.
August 31st
Another confidential meeting of Walesa and Kiszczak. Kiszczak
appeals for ending the wave of strikes and promises to legalise
"Solidarnosc".
December 18th
Establishment of the Citizens' Committee led by Lech Walesa.
1989
February 6th
Round Table negotiations begin in Warsaw.
April 5th
Ratification of the Round Table documents: the agreement provides
for relegalisation of "Solidarnosc" and free elections
to the Sejm (Lower House of the Parliament) where 35% of seats
are to be contested freely.
April 17th
Voivod Court in Warsaw registers Independent and Self-governing
Trade Union "Solidarnosc" with the seat in Gdansk.
June 4th
Elections to the Sejm and Senate. In the first and second round
the Citizens' Committee gains 161 seats (out of total 161) in
the Sejm and 99 in the Senate (out of total 100).
July 19th
By the majority of 1 vote in the Parliament Wojciech Jaruzelski
becomes the President of People's Republic of Poland.
August 23rd
Sejm appoints Tadeusz Mazowiecki as Poland's Prime Minister. PZPR
maintains 5 ministries, including Internal Affairs and Defence.
1990
January 29th
The last congress of PZPR decides to dissolve Polish communist
party.
April 19th - 24th
II National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc."
Lech Walesa elected president for the second time.
May 27th
Rirst fully democratic elections to local governments. Candidates
from Citizens' Committees gain 41% of mandates.
December 9th
Following the second round of elections Lech Walesa becomes President
of Poland.
December 12th
Lech Walesa resigns his presidency of NSZZ "Solidarnosc."
1991
February 22nd-24th
III National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
in Gdansk elects Marian Krzaklewski as the president of the Union.
April 10th
First division of the Red Army leaves Poland.
October 27th
First fully free parliamentary elections in Poland since WWII.
Majority of seats go to Democratic Union and Alliance of Democratic
Leftwing (SLD—post-communists).
Autumn
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" is granted an observer statute of
the ETUC.
1992
June 4th
Sharp political crisis due to so-called "agents list"
of Secret Security Service. Following the motion of President
Walesa Parliament dismisses Jan Olszewski.
July 11-14th
IV National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc".
Marian Krzaklewski is re-elected as president of the Union.
September
Negotiations over the Pact on State Enterprise in Transformation
begin with the Government.
1993
February
The Pact on State Enterprise in Transformation signed by social
partners and the Government. The Pact provides for establishment
of a Tripartite Committee and gives a legal framework for collective
bargaining at the national level.
May 19th
Establishment of All-Polish Strike Headquarters in preparation
for a general strike. The MP's of the "Solidarnosc"
Caucus propose a vote of no confidence against the government
of Hanna Suchocka.
May 28th
The Sejm adopts the vote of no confidence against the government
of Hanna Suchocka.
May 29th
President Lech Walesa dissolves the Parliament.
September 19th
Parliamentary elections. NSZZ "Solidarnosc" receives
4.9%, which is too low (5% threshold) for the Sejm, but 9 Solidarity
representatives retain seats in the Senate.
1994
September 9th
Marian Krzaklewski presents a draft of the State Constitution,
prepared by the Union and signed by one million people, to the
parliament.
September 29th - October 2nd
VI National Congress of Delegates. Strike Fund is established
(5% of dues).
1995
January 4th
End of 33-day-long hunger strike of health care and education
employees. The Government makes a commitment to raise their salaries
6% above the inflation.
November 14th
In the second round of the presidential elections Aleksander Kwasniewski
defeats Lech Walesa (51% against 49%) and becomes President of
Poland.
December
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes member organisation of the
ETUC.
1996
June 26th-29th
VIII National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
in Poznan. The Union decides to participate in the parliamentary
elections within the framework of the coalition of Electoral Action
of Solidarity (AWS) based on the Union's program.
1997
September 21st
Victory of AWS in the elections.
October 17th
Jerzy Buzek (AWS) becomes Prime Minister.
Autumn
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes member organisation of the
TUAC.
1999
January 1st
Three reforms: administration (16 voivodships), health care and
social insurance.
September 1st
Launching of the reform of the Polish educational system.
Lanello
E.C. Prophet, 29 marca 1981
Camelot, USA
Copyright © 1981
The Summit Lighthouse
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