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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.
On October 17, 2002 Lech Walesa, former President
of Poland and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, spoke to roughly
5,000 people at Montana State University, Bozeman, USA. The
Gdansk electrician with his trademark mustache was greeted
with a standing ovation and shouts of enthusiasm.
Nobody believed Solidarity—the
labor movement he led that fought for labor and political
freedoms—could succeed,
especially as thousands of Soviet troops were massed on Poland's
borders, threatening to invade. Not even former Presidents
Reagan and Bush believed communism would fall.
"Communism was like a big
truck chugging up hill when Michail Gorbachev became the Soviet
Union's 'driver'—Walesa
said. "Then the Polish people unscrewed the engine."
It was Walesa's personal courage and willingness
to risk his life which changed history. He scaled a wall at
the Gdansk Shipyard in 1980 in the middle of an illegal workers
strike and gave a rousing speech which galvanized wavering
strikers. The Solidarity labor movement fought first for the
right to organize, then for political reforms. It was outlawed
and Walesa was jailed in the 1980s.
"We desperately wanted freedoms"—he
said. "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 to the students. "The world is entering a new era
full of unprecedented opportunities and dangers. Wherever
you are, you can influence the outcome of events.
"Sometimes if you fail in life, you
can even get a Nobel Prize."
As he left the stage Walesa gave a two-fingered
Solidarity victory salute.
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translation:
Eva V. Butkiewicz-Tame |
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 workers' protests.
July/August
Wave of strikes across Poland. Jacek Kuron advice: "Do
not burn the committees! Establish your own!"
August 14th
Strike in the Gdansk Shipyard begins. After two days it becomes
a general strike of all companies in the region, then spreads
all over the country. "The Polish August" begins.
August 17th
The Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee (MKS), led by a 36-year-old
electrician Lech Walesa announces 21 postulates, including
the right to establish free trade unions, freedom of speech
and the right to strike.
August 24th
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
Governmental commission ratifies an agreement with the MKS
in Szczecin.
August 31st
The agreement ratified in Gdansk. At the Gdansk Shipyard main
entrance Lech Walesa announces: "We now have free and
independent trade unions!"
September 17th
Representatives of over 30 regional founding committees adopt
a resolution establishing Independent and Self-governing Trade
Union (NSZZ) and call it "Solidarnosc."
November 10th
The Supreme Court ratifies NSZZ "Solidarnosc" Constitution.
In 1981 about 9.5 million people become members of the union.
1981
February 11th
Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, former Minister of Defence appointed
Prime Minister of Poland.
March 19th
"Bydgoszcz provocation" - special group of Security
Service (SB) assaults representatives of "Solidarnosc,"
including Jan Rulewski, president of the regional board. Possibility
of confrontation mounts, especially dangerous due to Polish-Soviet
joint military exercises in Poland.
March 27th
4-hour general warning strike throughout 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 President of the Union and adopts "Message
to the Working People of Eastern Europe."
October 17th
Plenary of the Polish Communist Party (PZPR) elects Gen. Wojciech
Jaruzelski First Secretary.
December 11th - 12th
Meeting of National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
in Gdansk.
December 13th
Communist National State Council enforces martial law in Poland.
Military Council of National Salvation (WRON) led by Gen.
Wojciech Jaruzelski takes over. All NGO's organisations, including
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" are abolished; about 10 thousand
union and opposition activists are interred in detention camps.
December 14th
Nationwide general strikes in mines, steelworks, factories,
shipyards and sea-ports. Strikes supressed by ZOMO (riot militia),
anti-terrorist units and the panzer (tank) army. Primartial
Committee for Help for the Detained established in Warsaw
as the first of 36 committees organised in cities and dioceses
across Poland.
December 16th
9 miners killed by ZOMO military at the "Wujek"
coal-mine.
December 17th
First illegal underground paper "Wiadomosci" (News)
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. Strike leaders sentenced to 2 to 4 years
imprisonment.
1982
February 11th
First issue of "Tygodnik Mazowsze" (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 the 1st May independent demonstrations
in Gdansk, Bialystok, Torun, Lodz, Szczecin and other cities.
May 3rd
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" organises demonstrations in Warsaw,
Cracow, Torun, Elblag, Gliwice, Lublin, Gdansk, Szczecin and
other cities. Brutal interventions by communist ZOMO riot
militia.
August 31st
Anniversary of August Agreements' ratification. Demonstrations
in Gdansk, Wroclaw, Cracow, Katowice, Szczecin, Gorzow Wielkopolski
and other cities. Armed intervention of communist riot militia
in Lubin (copper basin), three killed, many arrested.
October 8th
Sejm adopts new Act on Trade Unions. All trade unions in existance
before 13 December 1981 dissolved. Street demonstrations in
Gdansk.
November 12th
Lech Walesa released from a detention camp.
December 31st
Martial law suspended by 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 communist officers of Ministry of
Internal Affairs.
November 24th
Establishment of All-Polish Agreement of Trade Unions (OPZZ),
new communist organisation. According to official propaganda
about 6 million people become members.
1985
June
Communist OPZZ seizes assets of other trade unions (about
3.4 billion zl). Estimated value of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
assets: 153 million zl plus capital of 613 million zl and
64 thousand USD.
1986
September 11th
Amnesty for all prisoners detained for "crimes and violations
against the state and public order" declared by general
Czeslaw Kiszczak. 225 political prisoners set free.
September 29th
Lech Walesa publicly establishes and nominates Temporary Council
of NSZZ "Solidarnosc" composed of Bogdan Borusiewicz,
Zbigniew Bujak, Wladyslaw Frasyniuk, Tadeusz Jedynak, Bogdan
Lis, Janusz Palubicki, Jozef Pinior. 'Coming out into the
open' of regional/enterprise structures of "Solidarnosc"
begins.
Autumn
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes a member organisation
of ICFTU and WCL.
1988
April-August
New wave of nationawide strikes across Poland.
August 20th
Communist Committee for National Defence (KOK) begins preparations
for introduction of martial law.
August 27th
In a TV speech General Czeslaw Kiszczak, Minister of the Interior
proposes Round Table negotiations with "Solidarnosc."
August 31st
Second confidential meeting of Walesa and Kiszczak. Kiszczak
appeals to end the wave of strikes and promises to legalise
"Solidarnosc".
December 18th
Establishment of Citizens' Committee led by Lech Walesa.
1989
February 6th
Round Table negotiations begin in Warsaw.
April 5th
Ratification of Round Table documents: the agreement provides
for re-legalisation of "Solidarnosc" and free elections
to the Sejm (Lower House of the Parliament) with 35% of seats
open to non-communists.
April 17th
Voivod Court in Warsaw registers Independent and Self-governing
Trade Union "Solidarnosc" with a chapter in Gdansk.
June 4th
Elections to the Sejm and Senate. In the first and second
round Citizens' Committee gains 161 seats (out of total 161)
in the Sejm and 99 in the Senate (out of total 100).
July 19th
By one parliamentary majority vote Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski
becomes President of the People's Republic of Poland.
August 23rd
Sejm appoints Tadeusz Mazowiecki as Poland's Prime Minister.
Communist PZPR maintains 5 ministries, including Internal
Affairs and Defence.
1990
January 29th
Final Communist PZPR Congress dissolves The Polish Communist
Party.
April 19th - 24th
II National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc."
Lech Walesa re-elected president.
May 27th
First fully democratic elections to local governments. Candidates
from Citizens' Committees gain 41% of mandates.
December 9th
Lech Walesa becomes President of Poland in the second round
of elections.
December 12th
Lech Walesa resigns NSZZ "Solidarnosc" presidency.
1991
February 22nd-24th
III National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc"
in Gdansk elects Marian Krzaklewski Union's President.
April 10th
First division of the Soviet Red Army leaves Poland.
October 27th
First fully free parliamentary elections in Poland since WWII.
Majority of seats go to the Polish Democratic Union and Alliance
of Democratic Left-wing (SLD - post-communists).
Autumn
ETUC observer status granted to NSZZ "Solidarnosc."
1992
June 4th
Serious political crisis due to discovery of Secret Security
Service so-called "agent list." President Walesa's
Parliamentary motion to dismiss Jan Olszewski granted.
July 11-14th
IV National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc".
Marian Krzaklewski re-elected Union's President.
September
Negotiations with the Government over Pact on State Enterprise
in Transformation begin.
1993
February
Pact on State Enterprise in Transformation signed by partners
and the Government. The Pact provides for establishment of
a Tripartite Committee and outlines 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
Sejm adopts 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 Polish 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 established
(5% of dues).
1995
January 4th
End of 33-day-long hunger strike of health care and education
employees. The Government proposes to raise their salaries
6% above inflation level.
November 14th
Aleksander Kwasniewski defeats Lech Walesa in the second round
of presidential elections (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 Solidarity Electoral
Action (AWS) coalition.
1997
September 21st
Victory of AWS in the elections.
October 17th
Jerzy Buzek (AWS) becomes Prime Minister.
Autumn
NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes TUAC member organisation.
1999
January 1st
Three reforms: administration (16 voivodships), health care
and social security.
September 1st
Introduction of the Polish educational system reform, after
35 years of the communist indoctrination.
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