Rada Naczelna Polonii Australijskiej i Nowozelandzkiej Polish Community Council of Australia & New Zealand Issue 2: SPRING 2005 From the president Polish people all over the world are now celebrating a very special anniversary. The Gdansk Shipyard workers’ victory over the communist government in 1980 galvanized the whole Polish population. It led to perestroika, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the Warsaw Pact disintegration and so on. Solidarity’s famous 21 Demands (postulaty) have become part of world heritage under the patronage of UNESCO. Australians of Polish origin, many of whom are past Solidarity members, wish to celebrate this victory with everybody. The article written by Dr Wlodzimierz Wnuk, a Solidarity past member celebrating 25 years himself, is based on consultations with Solidarity activists in Australia and Poland. His article should help us to understand why and how Solidarity was successful while many similar attempts in Poland and Solidarity celebrates its twenty-fifth birthday this year. It other countries failed. was on the 14th day of August 1980, twenty-five years ago, Dr Janusz Rygielski that workers in the “Lenin” Shipyard of Gdansk, Poland, President of the PCCA&NZ commenced an occupational strike which changed the world. The success of Solidarity was the Poland suffered horrible Second, that protests need be precursor without which the casualties in World War II – public, well coordinated, voiced Australians Berlin Wall would not have fallen six million Polish citizens, by masses, and have strong recognised and the Cold War would not have equating to 1/6th of the support and recognition from Many Australians helped ended. Without Solidarity, the population, perished. It fought organised workers in Western Solidarity and Poland in those Iron Curtain would still hang against the Nazi alliance on both democracies. Thirdly, that these turbulent years 1980-1989. strong and the fear of a nuclear the Eastern and Western fronts protests need to first and war would still be with us today. as the 4th largest army and lost foremost address living and The Polish Government intends Solidarity led to “Perestroika” some 70% of its infrastructure. working conditions and the socio- to award them with appropriate in the USSR and the collapse of Despite Poland’s enormous input economic environment. Finally, medals during the 25th the Soviet Union and its servile in World War II, Poland was the protesting workers must be anniversary of Solidarity Eastern bloc. In a wider sense, it “gifted” to one of her oppressors determined, united (solidary) and celebrations. initiated the adjustment of both and attackers, the Soviet Union, prepared to ignore provocation. through the Yalta Treaty (signed the political influence and military At the end of the 1970s, the Executive Committee might of the world’s “Super- in February, 1945). The Soviets oppressive Soviet regime was still Dr Janusz Rygielski powers”, an expansion of real decided to brutally impose their communist totalitarian mono- operationally strong, swift and President democracy, and the liberation of able to tackle uprising. But cracks trade and exchange in Euro-Asia. party system on a nation that Andrzej Alwast not so long ago lived in a free were appearing on the surface. Vice-President, Public Officer Such an achievement could not A major “crack” became apparent democracy underpinned by Ita Szymanska have happened without strong a market economy. due to intensive infightings conviction, mobilization and the within the dominant communist Secretary commitment of a large nation. Poland did not endure the Soviet Party which produced dissidents. Ewa Bajon It is difficult to understand the regime lightly. Many times Poles These “outcasts” were familiar Treasurer uniqueness and the undercurrents tried to shake off the shackles with the Party’s internal John Suchowiecki OAM of this strike without under- of totalitarianism, a rigid and limitations and weaknesses. Vice Treasurer standing the background of the inefficient centralized economy, Another “crack” was the rapidly deteriorating status of the Zbigniew Sudull, OAM persistent struggle of Poles for censorship and servitude. But Spokesman independence and self- attempts by workers in 1953, economy, controlled and governance in their homeland. 1956, 1970, and 1976 failed and mismanaged by the communist Jerzy Krajewski ended in bloody battles and government. Foreign loans Member Since the end of the Second repressions. This lead to the received from the West were Franciszek Rutyna OAM World War, the Polish nation polarisation of opinions and spent by Edward Gierek’s Member longed for full independence feelings, even amongst staunch government on largesse projects which had been taken away from and public relation exercises. And Dr Wlodzimierz Wnuk Communist Party supporters: Member it by the Yalta Treaty. The longing dissidents arose who later, using when a petrol crisis hit and loan for freedom was even more keen their contacts and insider installments became due, this had Rev. Fr. Wiesław Slowik SJ since Poland had, prior to World knowledge, enormously helped a severe impact on merchandise Clergy Representative War II, only 21 years of freedom the workers’ cause. It is from in government shops. At the same Dr Bozena Szymanska after regaining full independence these initial attempts that Polish time Poland was expected to Polish Education Commission in 1918 as the result of a bloody people learned how better to generously contribute to the in Australia World War I. Until 1918, Poland confront the ruthless and self- grandiose Moscow Olympics had endured 123 years of the iron centered communist government. in 1980, a massive financial flop. Honorary Chairman rule of the old European super- Externally, traditional Polish Christopher Lancucki AM powers, Prussia, Russia and First, they learned that streets are exporters were losing markets Austria. These three countries had inappropriate place to vent their to emerging Asian economies. Council's representative in New Zealand partitioned and annexed Poland anger. in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jan Roy-Wojciechowski page 1 celebrating 25 years Such a “spark” was the callous Solidarnosc (The Independent sacking of Anna Walentynowicz, a and Self-Governing Trade Union crane operator in the government- Solidarity or “Solidarity” for short) Superimposed over this was the owned “Lenin” shipyard in – was born. Gdansk, just a few months short of fast rising pride of Polish Roman This day is now celebrated in Catholics, a majority of the her retirement. She was one of the founding members of the illegal Poland as a national day of population, who had been Solidarity and Freedom. opposed to communism from the Free Trade Unions of the Coast start. For decades, the Church had (Wolne Zwiazki Zawodowe In 2003 a hand-written text of the been discriminated and ridiculed Wybrzeza). The founding famous 21 workers’ postulates was by atheists, communists and declaration of the Free Trade added by UNESCO to the World Marxists. The election of cardinal Unions states that: Cultural Heritage List (Memory of Karol Wojtyla to the Holy See of “the genuine social organisations the World). Such a privilege is only Peter as the world leader of one and associations may save the granted to documents which have of the largest religions provided country, since the only means to had a profound influence on the an unexpected and very strong consolidate the interests and will world’s history. moral boost to the Polish of the citizens with the interests Catholics. This was evident during Solidarity was unique. It was and the power of the country is a mass movement rather than the inaugural visit of the Pope democratisation” John Paul II to Poland in 1979. a typical trade union, because Buoyed by the recent success of it was not profession specific and But probably the fatal threat to a similar workers’ protest in the it set and sought the goals of the governing party’s dominance Lublin region, Anna’s colleagues - wider political and governance was the growing conviction of Bogdan Borusewicz, Piotr changes. In the 1980s, it garnered the nation that communism was Maliszewski, Jerzy Borowczak, a broad anti-communist social unable to provide a satisfactory Bogdan Felski and Lech Walesa - movement with supporters solution to get the country out convinced the shipyard employees ranging from Roman Catholics to of economic crisis and institute to strike in protest. This started members of the anti-communist reforms. Jokes and caricatures a peaceful revolution as the left. The union was initially backed from this period clearly illustrate metaphorical “fires” of workers’ by a group of intellectual a complete lack of trust and strikes engulfed the whole nation. dissidents (Workers’ Defence Above: Lech Walesa and confidence in the pompous and Committee – KOR), and it was sympathisers at the entrance to arrogant government of “block- The strikes in the 1980s had the based on the rules of nonviolent the “Lenin” shipyard in Gdansk heads”. Prohibited underground following distinguishing features: resistance founded on a refusal to during the 1980 strike. publishers flourished producing cooperate with the Government. reprints of “illegal” books which ■ the participants decided Soon, Solidarity had 10 million dealt with issues of long to stage peaceful protests members, more than a half of the suppressed historical truth. sit-ins at their workplaces; whole workforce in Poland at that Overseas radio stations such as ■ the