Polish workers si repulse austerity Poland: Over 30 years of struggle

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Polish workers have fought against the Stalinist bureaucratic machine for over 1956—Workers at engineering plant in Poznan strike over wages, food prices. and working conditions. As many as 70 killed; hundreds injured. Wladyslaw Gomulka, released from detention in the Soviet Union two years earlier, installed as premier, Promises political freedom and economic reform.

1968—Students like Jacek Kuron and Karol Modzelewski demonstrate for political and cultural freedom after government bans student play 1970-Porty-two percent of working class families receive less than adequate diet, More price increases, Demonstrations in Gdansk and other coastal cities lead to Gomulka's fall. Replaced by Edward Gierek, who defuses protests by making incredible promises. (Every Pole will have a new home by 1985!") This begins Poland's catastrophic dependence on loans from 17 capitalist governments and 1976-Doubling of prices leads to strike wave, Government forced to retreat. But Lech Walesa and other strike leaders fired from their jobs.

1980—-Price increases set off strikes. Formation of independent union, Solidarity, Gierek ousted as Premier, Replaced by Stefan Kania, who is replaced one year 1981-Martial law imposed on Dec. 13. Solidarity banned a few months later.

1985-Government announces price increases for many basic goods. Operating underground, Solidarity calls for general strike but withdraws call when gov1988-Price increases from 40% to 200% lead to series of strikes and factory occupations. Some wage increases, Stalemate on political demand to legalize SolA series of price increases in February and April ranging from 40 percent to 200 percent triggered the largest strikes in Poland since the imposition of martial law in December 1981.

Thousands of young workers participated in strikes at Nowa Huta steel mill, Gdansk shipyards, Stalowa Wola steel mill, Bydgoszcz transport operations, and elsewhere.

The government acted quickly to contain the protests. It settled the economic demands of the initial strikes in Bydgoszcz and Stalowa Wola by granting wage increases of 63 percent and 50 percent respectively.

But the concessions revealed the vulnerability of the regime. The victories inspired the Nowa Huta and Gdansk strikers to add political demands to their economic grievances. The Gdansk workers, for example, demanded legalization of Solidarity inside the shipyard and nationally.

This raised the stakes considerably.

Once the character of the strikes began to expand, the authorities acted swiftly and decisively to disperse the occupation at Nowa Huta. Percussion grenades were reported to have been used—with at least 42 people requiring hospital treatment.

three decades:

501 banks later by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.

ernment modifies increases.

idarity. -C.F.

The Gdansk shipyard workers soon ended their occupation after it became clear that national support actions would not occur. It was a stand-off. Lech Walesa, chairman of Solidarity and strike leader, accurately declared it a "truce, not a defeat."

Living conditions getting worse In the last seven years, martial law has been lifted, a large number of political | risoners released, and an amnesty for for neI underground Solidarity activists declared. But no real changes in bureaucratic rule by the Polish Communist Party have occurred.

Living standards in Poland have steadily and sharply deteriorated. In 1982, 30 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. The price of flour, cheese, and rice rose from 30 percent to 40 percent in 1985. Later, fuel and energy prices were boosted an average 22 percent to 30 percent.

Today is not any better. The average waiting time for a new apartment is now 25 years. The workweek has been stretched to 46 hours. Long lines and a scarcity of basic food items are an everyday fact of life.

These conditions have spurred a new generation of workers into action. The latest