History of NSZZ Solidarnosc in dates

• 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
• 1990, 1991,1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

1980

July, 1^st

The Government introduces so called "commercial prices" (market prices) for meat products in factory eateries. This minor decision provokes an increasing wave of workers' protests.

July/August

A wave of strikes is running through the country. Jacek Kuron says: "Do not burn the committees! Establish your own ones!"

August 14^th

The strike in Gdansk Shipyard starts, after two days it becomes a general strike of all companies in Region, then in all of the country. This is the beginning of "the Polish August".

August 17^th

The Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee (MKS), led by an electrician Lech Walesa, announces 21 postulates (including e.g. the right to establish free trade unions, freedom of speech and the right to strike)

August 24^th

The Plenary of the Central Committee of Polish United Workers Party (PZPR) dismisses eight close associates of Edward Gierek (PZPR General Secretary), including the Prime Minister Edward Babiuch.

August 30^th

The Governmental commission ratifies the agreement with the MKS in Szczecin.

August 31^st

The agreement is ratified in Gdansk. At the gate of the shipyard Lech Walesa says: "We have free and independent trade unions!".

September 17^th

The representatives of over 30 regional founding committees adopt the resolution establishing the Independent and Self-governing Trade Union (NSZZ) "Solidarnosc".

November 10^th

The Supreme Court acknowledges the Constitution of NSZZ "Solidarnosc". In 1981 about 9.5 million people were members of the union.

1981

February 11^th

Former Minister of Defence, Wojciech Jaruzelski, is appointed the Prime Minister.

March 19^th

"Bydgoszcz provocation" - special group of Security Service (SB) assaulted representatives of "Solidarnosc", including Jan Rulewski, the president of the regional board. There is a threat of confrontation, especially dangerous due to military manoeuvres with participation of the Soviet army.

March 27^th

4-hour general warning strike conducted in all of Poland.

March 30^th

"Warsaw agreement" between the Government and "Solidarnosc" ends the Bydgoszcz conflict. "Solidarnosc" cancels the planned general strike.

September 5^th - 10^th, September 26^th - October 7^th

I National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc" elects Lech Walesa for the President of the Union and adopts "Message to working people of Eastern Europe".

October 17^th

Plenary of the PZPR elects general Wojciech Jaruzelski the First Secretary of the party.

December 11^th - 12^th

Meeting of the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarnosc" in Gdansk.

December 13^th

In the night of 12^th to 13^th of December, the decree of the National State Council introduces the martial law in Poland. The authority is transferred to the Military Council of National Salvation (WRON) presided by general Wojciech Jaruzelski. All NGO's organisations, including NSZZ "Solidarnosc" are suspended; about 10 thousand union and opposition activists are held in detention camps.

December 14^th

General strikes in companies, mines, and steelworks factories, shipyards and harbours all over the country. The strikes are pacified by ZOMO (riot militia), anti-terrorist units and panzer army. Primatial Committee for Help for the Detained established in Warsaw as the first of 36 committees organised in other cities and dioceses.

December 16^th

9 miners are killed in effect of ZOMO assault in "Wujek" coalmine.

December 17^th

The first underground paper, "Wiadomosci" edited in Warsaw.

December 18^th

Pope John Paul II appeals for putting an end to the bloodshed in Poland.

December 1981 - January 1982

First martial courts. The leaders of the strikes sentenced for 2 to 4 years of imprisonment.

1982

February 11^th

First issue of "Tygodnik Mazowsze" (weekly) edited in Warsaw, in next every years single issue will be printed in 30-40 thousand copies

April 12^th

Radio  "Solidarnosc" first broadcast in Warsaw.

April 22^nd

Establishing 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 1^st

Many thousands participants in independent 1^st May demonstrations in Gdansk, Bialystok, Torun, Lodz, Szczecin and other cities.

May 3^rd

NSZZ "Solidarnosc" organises another demonstrations in Warsaw, Cracow, Torun, Elblag, Gliwice, Lublin, Gdansk, Szczecin and other cities. Brutal interventions of ZOMO.

August 31^st

Anniversary of ratification of August Agreements. Demonstrations in Gdansk, Wroclaw, Cracow, Katowice, Szczecin, Gorzow Wielkopolski and other cities. Armed intervention of militia in Lubin (copper basin), three dead, many people arrested.

October 8^th

Sejm adopts new Act on trade unions. All trade unions existing before 13 December 1981 dissolved. Street demonstrations in Gdansk.

November 12^th

Lech Walesa released from detention camp.

December 31^st

The martial law suspended by the resolution of the National Council.

1983

October 5^th

Lech Walesa awarded Peace Nobel Prize.

1984

October 19^th

Jerzy Popieluszko, priest of "Solidarnosc" in Warsaw, hijacked and murdered by officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

November 24^th

Establishment of All-Polish Agreement of Trade Unions (OPZZ), organisation obedient towards 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 11^th

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 are free.

September 29^th

Lech Walesa appoints openly 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 and enterprise structures of the union.

Autumn

NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes member organisation of the ICFTU and WCL.

1988

April - August

Another wave of strikes.

August 20^th

The Committee for Defence of the Country (KOK) begins preparations for introduction of martial law.

August 27^th

General Czeslaw Kiszczak, the Minister of the Interior, in a television speech, proposes Round Table negotiations.

August 31^st

Another confidential meeting of Walesa and Kiszczak. Kiszczak appeals for putting an end to strikes and promises to take care of legalisation of "Solidarnosc".

December 18^th

Establishment of the Citizens' Committee led by Lech Walesa.

1989

February 6^th

Round Table negotiations start in Warsaw.

April 5^th

Ratification of the Round Table documents: the agreement provides for relegalisation of "Solidarnosc", free elections to the Sejm (Lower House of the Parliament) where 35% of seats are to be contested freely.

April 17^th

Voivod Court in Warsaw registers the Independent and Self-governing Trade Union "Solidarnosc" with the seat in Gdansk.

June 4^th

Elections to the Sejm and Senate. In the first and second round the Citizens' Committee gains 161 seats (out of 161 possible) in the Sejm and 99 in the Senate (out of 100 possible).

July 19^th

By the majority of 1 vote in the Parliament Wojciech Jaruzelski becomes the President of People's Republic of Poland.

August 23^rd

The Sejm appoints Tadeusz Mazowiecki for the Prime Minister. PZPR maintains 5 ministries, including Internal Affairs and Defence.

1990

January 29^th

The last congress of PZPR decides to dissolve the party.

April 19^th - 24^th

II National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc". Lech Walesa is elected president for the second time.

May 27^th

The first fully democratic elections to local governments. The candidates from the Citizens' Committees gain 41% of mandates.

December 9^th

In the second round of the elections Lech Walesa becomes the President of Poland.

December 12^th

Lech Walesa resigns from the chair of the president of NSZZ "Solidarnosc".

1991

February 22^nd - 24^th

III National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc" in Gdansk elects Marian Krzaklewski for the president of the Union.

April 10^th

First division of the Red Army leaves Poland.

October 27^th

First fully free parliamentary elections in Poland since II World War. The 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 4^th

Sharp political crisis due to so called "agents list" of Security Service. By the motion of the President Walesa the Parliament dismisses Jan Olszewski.

July 11-14^th

IV National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarnosc". Marian Krzaklewski is re-elected the president of the Union.

September

Negotiations start with the Government on the Pact on State Enterprise in Transformation.

1993

February

The Pact on State Enterprise in Transformation signed by social partners and the Government. The Pact provides for setting of the Tripartite Committee and gives a legal framework for collective bargaining at the national level.

May 19^th

Establishment of All-Polish Strike Headquarters aimed at preparations to a general strike. The MP's of the "Solidarnosc" Caucus propose a vote of no confidence for the government of Hanna Suchocka.

May 28^th

The Sejm adopts the vote of no confidence for the government of Hanna Suchocka.

May 29^th

President Lech Walesa dissolves the Parliament.

September 19^th

Parliamentary elections. NSZZ "Solidarnosc" receives 4.9%, which is too low (5% threshold) for the Sejm, but 9 representatives have seats in the Senate.

1994

September 9^th

Marian Krzaklewski presents in the Parliament the draft of the State Constitution prepared by the Union and signed by one million people.

September 29^th - October 2^nd

VI National Congress of Delegates. Strike Fund is established (5% of dues).

1995

January 4^th

End of 33-day hunger strike of the employees of health care and education. The Government makes an commitment to raise their salaries of 6% above the inflation.

November 14^th

In the second round of the presidential elections Aleksander Kwasniewski defeats Lech Walesa (51% against 49%) and becomes the President of Poland.

December

NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes member organisation of the ETUC.

1996

June 26^th - 29^th

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 programme.

1997

September 21^st

A great victory of AWS in the elections.

October 17^th

Jerzy Buzek (AWS) becomes the Prime Minister.

Autumn

NSZZ "Solidarnosc" becomes member organisation of the TUAC.

1999

January 1^st

Three reforms: administration (16 voivodships), health care and social insurance.

September 1^st

Launching of the reform of education system.