SOLIDARITY AND POLAND
What is Solidarity?
Solidarity is an independent trade union movement and was founded by Lech Walesa in 1980. What was particularly striking about Solidarity was that within one year it reached 10 million members and soon began acting in much the same way as a political party would do, although Poland was at the time a one-party state. Solidarity still exists today, although it is now a traditional trade union rather than a platform for political protest as it had been throughout the 1980's..
Why was Solidarity created?
By the mid 1970's, many people in Poland were deeply unhappy with the Communist regime led by Edward Gierek. This was due to several reasons:
Gierek had replaced Wladyslaw Golmulka (remember him? he had become leader of Poland in 1956) following strikes and demonstrations that took place in the Lenin Shipyard in the port of Gdansk in 1970. These strikes had been led by shipyard workers who were unhappy when the government decided to raise food prices by 36%. One of these ship workers was Lech Walesa.
Below Left: Map of Poland-Gdansk is located on the Baltic Sea coast. Below Right: Lech Walesa speaking to workers in the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk
Solidarity is an independent trade union movement and was founded by Lech Walesa in 1980. What was particularly striking about Solidarity was that within one year it reached 10 million members and soon began acting in much the same way as a political party would do, although Poland was at the time a one-party state. Solidarity still exists today, although it is now a traditional trade union rather than a platform for political protest as it had been throughout the 1980's..
Why was Solidarity created?
By the mid 1970's, many people in Poland were deeply unhappy with the Communist regime led by Edward Gierek. This was due to several reasons:
- High prices, particularly on food and essential everyday items
- This also resulted in food shortages
- Corruption within the government
- The failure of the government to deliver on its promises to create an affordable and better standard of living
Gierek had replaced Wladyslaw Golmulka (remember him? he had become leader of Poland in 1956) following strikes and demonstrations that took place in the Lenin Shipyard in the port of Gdansk in 1970. These strikes had been led by shipyard workers who were unhappy when the government decided to raise food prices by 36%. One of these ship workers was Lech Walesa.
Below Left: Map of Poland-Gdansk is located on the Baltic Sea coast. Below Right: Lech Walesa speaking to workers in the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk
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The Gierek government promised to make significant economic reforms which included:
While this did improve the standard of living, it also created greater expectations from the Polish people and high levels of debt.
By 1976, the government was struggling to pay its debts and announced a 60% rise in food prices to try and keep finances in order. Predictably, workers were outraged and responded with strikes and riots, forcing the government to reduce food prices. Walesa was fired from his job in the Lenin Shipyard for his role in the protests.
By the late 1970's, the opposition movement in Poland was well organized and consisted a broad cross-section of Polish society. Moreover, they were young and well educated.
In 1979, the visit of the first Polish Pope, John Paul II (real name Karol Wojtyla), created a great outpouring of national pride in a proudly Catholic country. During his visit, the Pope gave regular sermons on human rights, which were attended by millions. His visit united the country like nothing before and inspired further opposition to the government.
When the government raised food prices again in 1980 and the inevitable protests followed, Solidarity was formed by Walesa.
- Heavy borrowing from foreign governments in order to finance economic development
- Increased production of consumer goods
While this did improve the standard of living, it also created greater expectations from the Polish people and high levels of debt.
By 1976, the government was struggling to pay its debts and announced a 60% rise in food prices to try and keep finances in order. Predictably, workers were outraged and responded with strikes and riots, forcing the government to reduce food prices. Walesa was fired from his job in the Lenin Shipyard for his role in the protests.
By the late 1970's, the opposition movement in Poland was well organized and consisted a broad cross-section of Polish society. Moreover, they were young and well educated.
In 1979, the visit of the first Polish Pope, John Paul II (real name Karol Wojtyla), created a great outpouring of national pride in a proudly Catholic country. During his visit, the Pope gave regular sermons on human rights, which were attended by millions. His visit united the country like nothing before and inspired further opposition to the government.
When the government raised food prices again in 1980 and the inevitable protests followed, Solidarity was formed by Walesa.
What did Solidarity achieve?
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What was the government response to Solidarity?
Solidarity gained international recognition for their actions in Poland and proved to be a source of inspiration for other resistance movements in the Eastern Bloc. The movement threatened to undermine the Gierek regime, and therefore other Communist countries in Eastern Europe, because they were faced with the embarrassment of an independent organization representing the workers against a government that claimed to represent the workers.
In July 1981, Gierek was replaced by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Although he immediately entered into new negotiations with Walesa and other Solidarity leaders, these soon broke down and there was a renewed round of strikes. In December 1981, Jaruzelski decided to impose martial law on Poland. This was due to several reasons:
The Polish Army imposed curfews by taking to the streets, a new wave was censorship was announced, a six day week was reintroduced and the the leaders of Solidarity, including Walesa, were arrested and imprisoned. Walesa was released after 11 months but by then, Solidarity had been outlawed.
What was the significance of Solidarity?
Solidarity gained international recognition for their actions in Poland and proved to be a source of inspiration for other resistance movements in the Eastern Bloc. The movement threatened to undermine the Gierek regime, and therefore other Communist countries in Eastern Europe, because they were faced with the embarrassment of an independent organization representing the workers against a government that claimed to represent the workers.
In July 1981, Gierek was replaced by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Although he immediately entered into new negotiations with Walesa and other Solidarity leaders, these soon broke down and there was a renewed round of strikes. In December 1981, Jaruzelski decided to impose martial law on Poland. This was due to several reasons:
- Solidarity was beginning to act more like a political party that challenged the authority of the ruling Communist Party in a one-party state
- Walesa was losing control of the more radical and extreme section of Solidarity who proposed violent of more political methods to attain their goals
- There was increasing pressure from other members of the Warsaw Pact
- Jaruzelski was worried that if the USSR sent the Red Army in to restore order order (as they had done in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968), then he would look weak and be replaced as leader
The Polish Army imposed curfews by taking to the streets, a new wave was censorship was announced, a six day week was reintroduced and the the leaders of Solidarity, including Walesa, were arrested and imprisoned. Walesa was released after 11 months but by then, Solidarity had been outlawed.
What was the significance of Solidarity?
- The Polish government were made to look weak and had to rely on military intervention to remain in power
- Solidarity became a global symbol of peaceful defiance against authoritarian government. The international outcry at the government crackdown in December 1981 led to economic sanctions being imposed on the Jaruzelski regime
- In turn, Solidarity inspired other opposition movements in the Eastern Bloc
- The economic sanctions imposed on Poland by Western governments forced Jaruzelski to enter into negotiations with Walesa in 1989 and in free democratic elections held the same year, Solidarity won 99 out of 100 seats in the Polish parliament. Walesa was elected President in 1990.