Treść książki
Przejdź do opcji czytnikaPrzejdź do nawigacjiPrzejdź do informacjiPrzejdź do stopki
22
Chapter1.PoliticsinPoland-framework,actorsandrelations
Teshipyardworkershadthreebasicdemands:wageincreases,thereturnof
WałęsaandWalentynowicz,andtheconstructionofamonumentinmemoryof
thestrikerskilledin1970(toensurethattheviolencewouldnotbeforgottenor
repeated).Withindays,parallelstrikesbrokeoutalloverPoland,andtheGdańsk
shipyardstrikersbecamespokespersonsforthewholeofPoland)sworkingclass.
Teyweresoonthenjoinedbyrepresentativesofhundredsofothercompanies,
dissidentswithintheintelligentsia,anddissidentsandadvisorsfromtheepiscopate,
whowerecalledontohelpwithnegotiationswiththegovernment.InAugust1980,
duringtalkswithcentralgovernmentrepresentatives,theworkers)delegation
presentedanelaboratelistofdemandsthatinteraliaincludedprotectionunderthe
lawforindependenttradeunions,aguaranteedrighttostrike,alowerretirement
age,salariesindexedtoinflation,three-yearmaternityleave,andamaximumfive-
dayworkingweek.
Facedwithtwooptionsbywhichtoresolvethesituation-violenceor
conciliation,Gierekdecidedonthelatter.All21demandswereacceptedandthe
independenttradeunionofSolidarity(Solidarność)wasfounded.Itissignificant
thatoneofthegreatestsourcesofsupportforthemovementopposingthe
communistregimewastheCatholicChurch,allthemoresofollowingthe1979
visittoPolandmadebyPopeJohnPaulII(i.e.theformerArchbishopofCracow,
KarolWojtyła).
TegainsmadebySolidarity,andbyitsalliesintheintelligentsiaandChurch,
wereunprecedentedandspectacular.Asaresult,aboutamillionPartymembers
joinedthetradeunion,notwithstandingtheobviousdiscontentinCommunist
Partyranksthatthiscaused.GierekwasreplacedasFirstSecretarybyStanisław
Kania,whosoughttoincorporateSolidarityintothesystem,therebyreducingits
antiestablishmentpotential.Allthiswasaccompaniedbydebatesaboutapotential
Sovietintervention(akintotheonesinHungaryin1956andCzechoslovakiain
1968).Solidaritywasmeanwhiledevelopingitsstructuresandprogrammes,and
wouldshortlybecomeanelementinconvenienttothepoliticalsetup.
Teradicalsolutionarrivedatbythecommunistswasputintoefecton13th
December1981.Kaniahadbeendismissedonlyshortlyaferbeingappointed,
andthenewFirstSecretary,anArmyofcerandformerMinisterofDefencewho
hadbeenresponsibleforthemilitaryoperationstosuppressprotestsbackin1970,
wasGeneralWojciechJaruzelski.Itwashisdecisionthatmartiallawshouldbe
imposedinPoland,inaCsolution)presentedastheonlywaytosavethenationfrom
unavoidableinvasionbytheUSSR.Infact,therewasnoconstitutionalbasisfor
thisapproach,whichdidnotevenreceive100%supportfromCommunistParty
members.Martiallawneverthelessenduredfortwoyears(1981-1983),andcostat
leastahundredlives(InstituteofNationalRemembrance).BothSolidarityleaders
andtheclergyplayedanimportantroleinpreventingviolenceduringthistime.
CurrentevidenceindicatesthatthemainargumentofpreventingaSoviet
invasionofPolandin1981andlaterwasfarfromthetruth.Atthattime,Soviet
