O4P Power-Up Training Builds Union Power Across Borders

This month in labour history

10-12-1983 Lech Walesa, leader of the Solidarity union in Poland, wins the Nobel Peace Prize. His wife Danuta accepts on his behalf. [more]

12-12-1970 At the announcement of a 10-30% price hike on basic foodstuffs and other consumer goods, workers at the Gdansk shipyards decide to go on strike. [more]

13-12-1981 General Wojciech Jaruzelski declares martial law in Poland in an attempt to stop political opposition led by the Solidarity union. 1000s of activists imprisoned. [more]

14-12-1992 300000 coal miners strike in Poland over low wages & losses of 180000 jobs. [more]

15-12-1970 Beginning of demonstrations and street fights in Slupsk and Elblag. Constitution of a central strike committee, bringing together workers from Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. [more]

16-12-1970 Govt sends in military to pacify coastal cities where workers are striking over high prices. They shoot striking shipyard workers. [more]

17-12-1970 In Gdynia, Poland soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens. [more]

17-12-1970 Beginning of demonstrations and street fights in Szczecin. General strike throughout the city. Constitution of a central strike committee, which takes all power in the city. A state of emergency is established throughout the country. [more]

23-12-1970 Responding to the general strike the government shuffles the cabinet and "releases" 7 billion zlotys to increase wages and pensions. [more]

24-12-1970 In 106 large factories in the country, meetings begin, where the workers decide on the modalities of the distribution of the seven billion zlotys released to end the strike. [more]

25-12-2007 Miners hold underground Christmas protest over merger, wages. [more]