Presentation Transcript

1. The 1980s: Solidarity in Poland

   By Vivienne Boyack
2. Communism in poland Stalin once said that establishing Communism in Poland was like trying to saddle a cow. Poland had a long history of conflict with Russia, and a tradition of personal freedom, Roman law, and limited government, very different from Russia's. Consequently, the rule of Poland was a more flexible type of dictatorship 1956- Reforms of Gomulka. Asserted were internal matters and had no intention of abandoning communism. Inspired events in Hungary 1956
3. Pre-1980 Post WW2 economic boom ends by mid 1970s, economic problems set in 1970-1: Price increases lead to mass strikes and demonstrations in coastal shipyard cities. 100’s of workers killed, including some in Gdansk. 24th June 1976 – Gierek announced price increases. Strikes in Warsaw and Radom. Price rises withdrawn within 24 hours. Workers repressed with violence KOR (Workers Defence Committee) set up to raise funds for victims of repression and to publicise their cases. Publish journals e.g. Robotnik. Flying University Activists had burnt down buildings but was a failure Post 1976- economic crisis deepens. Working conditions worsen, increased social tensions - alcoholism Between 1976 and the summer of 1980, 1000 strikes in various Polish workplaces. Regime becomes accustomed to handling strikes by isolating them and giving quick concessions 1st July 1980 government announced a new round of price increases. For 2 months- not a day without a strike
4. Gdansk August 1980 Solidarity founded as a trade union during strike at Lenin Shipyards, Gdansk in August 1980- 1st independent trade union in Soviet bloc. In reaction to the firing of Anna Walentynowicz, a popular and hardworking worker. Ended regime’s hopes of quickly ending the strike wave. 16th August turning point of strike – marked change from local and economic demands to more institutionalised changes Students, having failed to support workers in 1970, sent 10,00 zlotys to strike fund Took control of public transport Prohibition of alcohol during strike Supported by the Polish church 21 points signed in front of TV cameras on Sunday 31st August. Agreed to all except the release of certain KOR prisoners. Walesa declares strike over Lack of state violence - dependency on Western economic aid and East-West detente
5. 21 demands 1. Acceptance of free trade unions independent of the Communist Party and of enterprises, in accordance with convention No. 87 of the International Labor Organization concerning the right to form free trade unions. 2. A guarantee of the right to strike and of the security of strikers. 3. Compliance with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech, the press and publication, including freedom for independent publishers, and the availability of the mass media to representatives of all faiths. 4. A return of former rights to: 1) People dismissed from work after the 1970 and 1976 strikes. 2) Students expelled because of their views. The release of all political prisoners, among them Edward Zadrozynski, Jan Kozlowski, and Marek Kozlowski. A halt in repression of the individual because of personal conviction. 5. Availability to the mass media of information about the formation of the Inter-factory Strike Committee and publication of its demands. 6. Bringing the country out of its crisis situation by the following means: a) making public complete information about the social-economic situation. b) enabling all social classes to take part in discussion of the reform programme. 7. Compensation of all workers taking part in the strike for the period of the strike. 8. An increase in the pay of each worker by 2,000 złoty a month. 9. Guaranteed automatic increases in pay on the basis of increases in prices and the decline in real income. 10. A full supply of food products for the domestic market, with exports limited to surpluses. 11. The abolition of ‘commercial’ prices and of other sales for hard currency in special shops. 12. The selection of management personnel on the basis of qualifications, not party membership. Privileges of the secret police, regular police and party apparatus to be eliminated. 13. The introduction of food coupons for meat and meat products. 14. Reduction in the age for retirement for women to 50 and for men to 55. 15. Conformity of old-age pensions and annuities with what has actually been paid in. 16. Improvements in the working conditions of the health service. 17. Assurances of a reasonable number of places in day-care centers and kindergartens for the children of working mothers. 18. Paid maternity leave for three years. 19. A decrease in the waiting period for apartments. 20. An increase in the commuter’s allowance to 100 złoty. 21. A day of rest on Saturday. Workers in the brigade system or round-the-clock jobs are to be compensated for the loss of free Saturdays with increased leave or other paid time off.
6. Solidarity After August 1980 10 million members at its height 3rd October 1980 – 1st nationally organised strike in the history of People’s Poland – 1 hour warning strike. 100’s of 1000’s participate. Even restaurants close their doors in some areas. Threatened full strike on 12th if union’s draft statutes not accepted. Regime responded by accepting statutes Rural Solidarity, intellectuals and students Union’s victories more and more “symbolic than real” Monument to those killed in 1970 erected Dec 1980 Jan 1981: Many wildcat strikes 19th March 1981: Bydgoszcz incident a turning point- activists brutally beaten by police after a meeting. Strikes cancelled and some promises won from regime. Walesa fails to consult colleagues. Solidarity enters a period of internal crisis. Need to redefine goals. Widening gap between leadership and membership base.
7. “Self-Limiting revolution” Phrase coined by KOR intellectuals. Society would organise itself from below, undermining control of the government but not seeking to take power. “Anti-political”. Avoided direct political confrontation or attacks on the regime’s power so as to prevent repression and bloodshed. Hungary 1956 and Czechoslovakia 1968. Michnik - “based on gradual and piecemeal change, not violent upheaval and forceful destruction of the existing system” Could never work? Impossible to transform civil society without touching the heart of state power. Barker - this “reformism” was the heart of the problem. He believes that Solidarity failed in 1981 because it did not go far enough. “Every time it limited the degree of its challenge to Polish rulers, it strengthened its enemy and weakened itself”.
8. Martial law 1981-3 Increasing problems within the PUWP. Influence of the army in government – General Jaruzelski takes over in Oct 1981 Dec 1981: martial law declared under section 2 of article 33 of constitution Armoured vehicles put down escalating riots. 10,000 opposition activists were jailed and dozens were killed in clashes with police. Curfew imposed, TV and radio firmly under state control. Justification – spared Poland the bloodshed of a Soviet invasion. In 1981, the Soviet Union would never have been willing to let Poland go Solidarity unprepared. Insufficient planning and contingency. Those who had tried to put money etc. aside had been ridiculed. Movement unable to function in secret – used to being open and democratic Brought an end to organised, open national opposition Small scale, local resistance continued – boycotts of media and state institutions
9. The role of the Church 85% declared themselves to be Catholic in 1980. RadekSikorski: “you would think the country was in the midst of a religious revival rather than living under Communism.” One of 21 points : call for broadcasting of mass on state radio Church the one institution in Poland with an independent voice. Ackerman: “An authority so great that even the communist party remained mute before it” Karol JózefWojtyła, Archbishop of Krakow, becomes Pope Jean Paul IIon 16th October 1978. Gorbachev once said ‘The collapse of the Iron Curtain wouldn’t have been impossible without John Paul II’. Visit to Poland in 1979 – brought unity, strength, confidence. “Opportunity for mass political catharsis” (Colin Barker) Lech Walesa: "The Holy Father, through his meetings, demonstrated how numerous we were. He told us not to be afraid".
10. The End of Communism in Poland Jaruzelski never tried to restore the old days- in fact made some changed that Solidarity had demanded. Attempts to woo the Church Reduced civil liberties even after martial law ends. US imposes economic sanctions. Increases economic problems. Rationing Strikes continue, but not organised by Solidarity Communist Party struggles to retain control of the people. Failed to eradicate the consciousness Solidarity had created “Ironically, martial law had marked the end of the communist pre-eminence in Poland” Wałęsa wins the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 In 1989, Solidarity was invited to take part in round-table talks, resulting in semi-free elections in 1989. Nearly all seats available to them were won August 24th 1989, Mazowiecki became Prime Minister Lech Wałęsa wins the presidential election of 9th December 1990 To what extent was the fall of Polish Communism a result of changing Soviet policy? Would it have happened without Solidarity?