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Work in the Gdańsk Shipyard is discontinued
"...a mass meeting was arguing with the shipyard manager…A member of the group, Lech Walesa…climbed over the wall..and declared the start of an occupation strike” (http://www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=136issue=108). "Key demands: reinstatement of Anna Walentynowicz and Lech Wałęsa--sacked activists of Free Trade Unions unrecognised by the state, erection of a monument to shipyard workers killed during the December 1970 revolt, a pay rise" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=6). -
Period: to
"Daily Liberty"
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Growing Influence of the Strike
"The strike spreads to embrace other shipyards, ports and city transport in the Tricity" "The authorities cut off telephone connections between the Coast and the rest of Poland" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=59). -
Formation of MKS
"...representatives of 21 striking enterprises set up an Interfactory Strike Committee (MKS) with Lech Wałęsa in charge" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=60). -
The Workers' Demands
“...the InterEnterprise Strike Committee (MKS)..formulated a set of demands , the ‘21 Points’” (http://www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=136issue=108). "A field mass is celebrated in front of the Shipyard gate. Workers mark a place in which to erect a monument to their workmates killed in December 1970" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=61). -
Advancement of Strike Success
"The Gdańsk MKS already groups 156 work establishments" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=62). The strike welcomes a new addition to the MKS: the Szczecin Shipyard. -
Southern Coast of Poland Unites
"250 work establishments belong to the Gdańsk MKS. The whole Coast is on strike" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=63). -
Political Recognition
"Workers’ delegations negotiating with Deputy Prime Minister Pyka sever talks and declare loyalty to the Gdańsk MKS grouping 304 work establishments" "A ruthless propaganda campaign against the strikers is under way in official press" "64 Warsaw intellectuals draw up an appeal calling on the government to recognise the MKS and start talks with workers" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=64). -
Government Involvement
"350 striking work establishments belong to the Gdańsk MKS; 82 are grouped in the Szczecin MKS" "The Government Commission starts negotiations with Szczecin strikers" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=65). -
MKS and Jagielski
"Talks with the Government Commission are under way in Szczecin" "...an MKS delegation meets with Deputy Prime Minister Jagielski" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=66). -
Solidarity and the Public
"The first issue of the „Solidarity Strike Information Bulletin” appears in the Gdańsk Shipyard" "... Gdańsk MKS (grouping 388 work establishments) and the Government Commission begin talks that are aired via the Shipyard’s wire broadcast centre" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=67). -
Drafting of first demand
"A Commission of Experts is appointed at the Gdańsk MKS to draft the first demand" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=68). -
Continuing Strikes
"The Tricity is still under telephone blockade; therefore the MKS does not conduct talks with the Government Commission" "142 work establishments are on strike in Szczecin; another tour of talks with government representatives is under way" "The first official newspaper writes about the existence of the Gdańsk MKS and the 21 demands" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=69). -
Gdansk MKS & Government Commission
"Second round of talks between the Gdańsk MKS and the Government Commission" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=70). -
.Further Government Talks
"The Gdańsk MKS groups more than 500 work establishments" "During talks in Szczecin, a government representative rejects the demand to set up free trade unions" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=71). -
Third Round of talks Between Gdansk MKS & Gov't Commission
"The third round of talks between the Gdańsk MKS and the Government Commission" "The strikes in Wrocław and in Kraków spread; a strike in the „Manifest Lipcowy” mine in the Silesian town of Jastrzębie begins" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=72). -
Further Negotiations
"At a secret meeting, the party leadership decides to continue the dialogue with the strikers, rejecting the variant of a solution from the position of strength" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=73). -
Gradual Success
"The Szczecin MKS signs an agreement with government representatives, It is beneficial in the part concerning social matters, and imprecise and terse regarding political demands" "The first two points of the Gdańsk agreement are initialled" "The PUWP CC plenary meeting approves the Szczecin agreement and decides to finally sign the Gdańsk agreement" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=74). -
Establishment of Self-Governing Trade Unions
"The MKS and the Government Commission sign an agreement declaring the strike finished and allowing the establishment of independent and self-governing trade unions" "Mieczysław Jagielski guarantees the release of all political prisoners" (http://www.solidarnosc.gov.pl/index.php?document=75).
