1980-1: Class Struggle in Poland
Submitted by Internationalis... on May 28 2019 15:32
As a follow up to our recent article about Solidarność (see: leftcom.org) we are republishing three of the leaflets that the CWO and Battaglia Comunista distributed in 1980-1 among workers in Britain, Italy, France, and the USA on the events unfolding in Poland.
Solidarność: Trade Unionism or Self-Organisation?
Submitted by Internationalis... on May 23 2019 12:25
Political and economic crises led to the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc. The downturn in the post-war accumulation cycle, the Cold War, the USSR’s disastrous intervention in Afghanistan, as well as the popular revolts in Central and Eastern Europe all played a role. But it is the class struggles of 1980s Poland to which we turn our eye here.
Trust in the Capacities of the People, Distrust in Elites
This book by Kenneth Good, published in 2014, argues for popular democratic control of society.
"Solidarnosc" erare paŝis: 1989
Kritika artikolo pri la eniris de la sindikato "Solidarnosc" al la Pola Registaro.
Invisible labour and political participation: Women in the Solidarność movement and in today's politics in Poland
Submitted by wojtek on Jul 10 2015 11:47
A feminist critique by Ewa Majewska of the old Solidarność and today's Polish politics. Originally published by and gratefully reproduced from the Baltic Worlds journal.
Solidarity: a union which betrays its name
Submitted by akai on Aug 25 2014 10:26
Next week Solidarity will organize its anniversary festival in Gdansk. It will be punctuated by such events as a huge mass in a grand cathedral and a ceremony dedicated to union-busting Ronald Reagan.
Poland: Protests but no strike
Submitted by akai on Sep 15 2013 20:28
On September 14, mass protests were held in Warsaw against recent anti-labour legislation. Unfortunately the unions did not call a strike.
"Solidarity" careerists denounce fired unionist and ZSP, defending the bosses
Submitted by akai on Jul 15 2013 17:50
The so-called “Solidarity” union from a furniture factory in Bartoszyce has issued a scandalous statement in what seems to be a campaign organized by the bosses of Black Red White company to protect its image after the events of recent weeks.
Summer in Gdansk - Solidarity
Solidarity booklet produced in late 1980 about the mass strikes in Poland which had just ended in huge victory for the workers who had made a mixture of economic and political demands.
What's wrong with the unions (pt.1)
Submitted by akai on Jul 5 2013 15:06
Last year Poland raised the retirement age to 67 and this year got rid of the guaranteed 8-hour day. Up til now, the main unions have responded with barely a peep. This lack of union militancy has no doubt given the green light to the neoliberal government to push ahead with such anti-worker measures. Now, as the workers demand some response, one wonders if this will be too little, too late. What are the factors that have lead to this situation? They are complex, ranging from the specifics of the local social conditions to the institutions of trade union collaboration. The following is the first in a series of articles on the situation of the unions in Poland.
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