Solidarity

In july 1980, the polish government was facing an economic crisis. Ordinary people faced extreme poverty. Strikes spread almost at once across the country. 

On August 1980, workers at the Lenin Shipyard went on strike, angry at the recently announced price rises and the dismissal of several workers who had complained about poor conditions. Strikers were led by Lech Walesa, they demanded the right to form a trade union.  On 31 August an agreement was signed meeting some of the demands. Crucially it gave workers the right to form unions independent from government control. Two weeks later a nationwide independent trade union called Solidarity was established. On 13 December 1981 the government declared a state of war and suspended Solidarity.