The strike that changed Poland
Poland鈥檚 communist economy was in crisis in 1980. At Gda艅sk鈥檚 Lenin Shipyard, strikers forced the communist authorities to back down, creating the Solidarity workers鈥� movement.
Poland鈥檚 communist economy was in crisis in 1980. When the price of everyday essentials went up, workers at the Lenin Shipyard in the Baltic city of Gda艅sk went on strike. Led by Lech Wa艂臋sa, the strike committee issued 21 demands on 17 August 1980. The demands were painted on sheets of plywood and hung up at the entrance to the shipyard for all to see. At the end of August a social contract was drawn up in which the communist authorities essentially caved in to the shipyard workers' demands. It marked the beginning of the Solidarity workers鈥� movement. Maciej Grzywaczewski was a student at the time who joined the strikers and who painted the demands on the plywood boards.
A Free Range/Overcoat Media production for 主播大秀 World Service
Photo: Strikers on the wall of the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk in 1980. Credit: Getty Images.
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