Solidarity
Sign in to savePolish trade union federation evolved into broad anti-authoritarian social movement
AI overview
Solidarity was a Polish trade union federation that grew into a wide-ranging social movement opposing the country's authoritarian government. It matters because it became one of the most significant challenges to communist rule in Eastern Europe and played a crucial role in Poland's transition toward democracy.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
Solidarity (Polish: „Solidarność”, pronounced [sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ] ), full name Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity" (Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy „Solidarność” [ɲɛzaˈlɛʐnɨ samɔˈʐɔndnɨ ˈzvjɔ̃zɛɡ zavɔˈdɔvɨ sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ], abbreviated NSZZ „Solidarność”), is a Polish trade union founded in August 1980 at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland. Subsequently, it was the first independent trade union in a Warsaw Pact country to be recognised by the state.
The union's membership peaked at 10 million in September 1981, representing one-third of the country's working-age population. In 1983 Solidarity's leader Lech Wałęsa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and the union is widely recognized as having played a central role in the end of communist rule in Poland. This led to the appointment of the first noncommunist Prime Minister since the 1940s.
Gallery (7)
Connections
Categories
1980 establishments in PolandAccuracy disputes from December 2017Anti-communist organisations in PolandEastern BlocLech WałęsaNonviolent resistance movementsNonviolent revolutionsOrganisations based in GdańskPolish nationalismPortal templates with redlinked portalsSelf-governanceSolidarity (Polish trade union)