working class opposition bureaucracies in the East European states.
But is is more letarian democracy, to the formation of Solidarnosc. he spark was rising fond prices. July the authorities announced a price actory-distributed meat. By the next day, tens of Inousanas moustrial workers stopped production in protest.
3y 8 July a more strike WaVe was Workers began demanding al improvement in workme conditions in addition to higher Kalworkers Solidarnose was born two years ago: a strike wave begun in July 1980 culminated in the historic signing of the Gdansk Agreement on 3l August which signified the beginning of the most formidable we've ever seen to the than just a trade union: it organised 95 per cent of the industrial working class, as well as students, intellectuals, and small farmers each with their own organisation. A model of proit was an attempt to make a reality of the first line of the Polish constitution: Power belongs to working people of the town and countryside.' Here we go over the events which led cemancer new factory committee work-free retirement at 55 and 1,000 per increase family allowance. They guarded their depots from the police and army.
August workers reporting for the cany mor ning shipyards were greeted by ,000 zloty wage rise, a cost of living bonus and news on the sacKing Hille walen EVnOWICk militant some 30 years seniority. Soon leaflets were distributed to all sections and workers Danners.
Yam thousands gathered the Amid roars of protest the director attempted lo socak. LECI nao been sackee or involve ment in the 1976 strike and had climbed over the gates to get into the shipyard declared a strike and occupation 200 delegates were elected to the strike committee mandated abolition comcontrolled 'ofHills ally bonnical onsoners. reinstate ment those victimised; family allowance parity witt a monument in tront of the shovard gate. com memorate the workers killed negotiating committee elected, workers millia sel up -- cle were going to be no more marTyrSNews occuption in GydIlla was on lolar strike ana communicaons were ser uo between prises After many sessions of negouation, • committee accepted a management offer and Lech Walesa announced the end of the occupation. But had heard every WOrG over the loudspeaker system wouldn't They on strike in solidarity strike committee revoked it: decision.
It was clear that strike was not simply was a well organised political That evening the 'Inter Enterprise strike committee was encompassing delegates town: Gdansk Gydnia and Sopot Within a weet representea aimosi 400 enterprises.
It drew up the famous list of 21 demands of the agreement of which the main one was lot unc acccolance o Ine state or independant trade union.
On 31 August, the agree signifyin mistoric struggle that is by no means resolved. Lech Walesa holding up pen that signed Gdansk agreement
----- pull-quotes -----
wages midouly, tieshe in- dustral cedare or Let one
the militia and building o
Soman. ne she yard Before long the
ment mo then of the riggi but was