The Strikes of June 1976 in Poland

East European Politics & Societies

Volumn 1, Issue 3, 1987, Pages 363-392

  Bernhard, Michael ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 84972750523     PISSN: 08883254     EISSN: 15338371     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0888325487001003003     Document Type: Article

References (87)

1. Tadeusz Karwicki, “Radom Musi Odzyskać Dobre Imig,” Zycie Radomskie, July 1, 1976; excerpts in MKZ NSZZ Solidarność, “Ziema Radomska,” Radomski Czerwiec ‘76 [Radom June 76] (Radom: NSZZ Solidarność, Ziema Radomska, 1981), p. 7.
2. Jerzy Stfpien, “Introduction to MKZ NSZZ ‘Solidarność,’ “ p. 1.
3. George Blazynski, Flashpoint Poland (New York: Pergammon, 1979), p. 258.
4. The police in Poland are called the milicja (militia) as is common in the Soviet Bloc with the exception of the German Democratic Republic where they still are called the Polizei (police). The SB (Security Service) seems to combine the functions of political police and espionage service. The ZOMO (Motorized Units of the Peoples Militia) are a special branch of the police, who have recently achieved a degree of notoriety in the western press. They seem to receive special training in control of riots, demonstrations and strikes, and have frequently been photographed in riot gear by western correspondents covering the repression of resistance actions to the declaration of martial law. The ZOMOs appear to be very well equipped and very formidable in carrying out their charges.
5. For details on this campaign see Jakub Karpinski, Countdown (New York: Karz-Cohl, 1982), pp. 184-8.
6. The importance of KOR and the Polish intelligentsia was one of issues debated at a symposium (February 23, 1985) at the Center for European Studies at Harvard University entitled “KOR: Intellectuals in Democratic Movements-the Polish Experience.” Among the participants who made interpretations on this question in their presentations, intellectual influence in the formation of Solidarity was stressed by this author and Dr. Wojciech Ostrowski of the University of Chicago. Professor Lawrence Goodwyn of Duke University and Mr. Roman Laba of the Russian Research Center of Harvard took well-reasoned contrary positions.
7. See Neal Ascherson, The Polish August (New York: Viking, 1982), p. 109; Zbigniew Fallenbuchl, “The Polish Economy at the Beginning of the 1980's,” in Joint Economic Committee of the Congress of the United States, East European Economic Assessment (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981), p.41; Waldemar Kuczynski, Po Wielkim Skoku [After the Great Leap] (Warszawa: Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Ekonomiczne, 1981), p.35; J. Michael Montias, “Poland: Roots of the Economic Crisis,” The ACES Bulletin 24:3 (1982), p.4; Martin Myant, Poland: A Crisis of Socialism (London: Lawrence and Wishart, 1982), pp.88-9; and Laura D'Andrea Tyson, “Aggregate Economic Difficulties and Workers' Welfare,” in Jan F. Triska and Charles Gati, eds., Blue Collar Workers in Eastern Europe (London: George Allen and Unwin, 1981), pp. 120-1.
8. Grazyna Pomian, ed., Protokóły tzw. Komisji Grabskiego [Protocols of the Grabski Commission] (Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1986), pp. 277 and 281. This source gives transcripts of conversations held with the key members of the Gierek team by the Grabski Commission, an internal party commission set up to investigate the responsibility of the Gierek team for the political and economic crisis of 1980-81 in preparation for the Extraordinary Party Congress (IX) held in the summer of 1981. Recently smuggled to the West and published, this is the most significant document published to date on the incompetence and corruption of the Gierek team.
9. Pomian, Protokóły, pp.67, 108-9, 278-9 and 324-7.
10. Pomian, Protokóły, pp. 223 and 333.
11. Pomian, Protokóły, p. 261.
12. Pomian, Protokóły, pp. 108-9 and 223.
13. RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/21 (1976) pp.2 and 5; A. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, etal., eds., Dissent in Poland, 1976-77 (London: Association of Polish Students and Graduates in Exile, 1977), p. 50.
14. Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp. 257-8; Stefan Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja w Polsce [Democratic Opposition in Poland] (New York and Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Glos, 1979), p.6; Jan Jozef Lipski, KOR (London: Aneks, 1983), p. 31; and Marek Tarniewski, Plonie Komitet [The Committee is Burning] (Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1982), p. 173.
15. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p. 50.
16. Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp.257-8.
17. RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/21 (1976), p.4.
18. KOR, Komunikat 2, (1976), in Kultura 12:351 (1976), pp. 129-30.
19. There is one strange case related to the June 25 events that bears mentioning. In the Nowotarski Leather Factory in Nowy Targ na Podhale the workers did not strike on June 25. However, the local PZPR organization did send a letter to the government which condemned the strikes in the name of the factory's workers. This led to a protest on June 29 which probably was extensive because it led to the reported dismissal of between one and three hundred workers. Lipski, KOR, p. 39.
20. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.51; Blazynski, Flashpoint, p.265.
21. RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/21, p.4.
22. KOR, Wypadki Czercowe i Dzialalnosc Komitetu Obrony Robotnikow [the June Events and the Activity of the Workers Defense Committee] (London: Aneks, no date, reprint of a May 1977 KOR publication in Warsaw), p. 1; ZF NSZZ “Solidarność” w ZM Ursus, Biuletyn Informa-cyjny 10. Wydanie Specjalne-Ursus Czerwiec 1976 [Special edition of the Information Bulletin of the Solidarity Organization in the Ursus Factory-Ursus June 1976], June 25, 1981, p. 1.
23. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.52-3; Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp.258-9; and “Opis Akcji Represyjnej Podjgty Wobec Pracownikow Z.M. Ursus i Innych Zakladow” [Description of the Repressive Actions Taken Against the Workers of the Ursus and Other Factories], Kultura 11:350(1976), p. 163.
24. “Opis,” p. 163, and Biuletyn 10, p. 1.
25. RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/21, p. 3.
26. “Opis,” p. 163-
27. I assume that these were ZOMO units because there is supposedly a ZOMO base there. When one speaks with Poles and the subject of Goldzinow comes up, it is assumed that one is talking about ZOMO.
28. “Opis,” pp. 163-4, and KOR, Wypadki, p. 1.
29. “Opis,” p. 163; KOR, Wypadki, p. 1; and Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.53-4.
30. “Opis,” pp. 163-4, and Biuletyn 10, pp.20-25.
31. Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp. 260-1; KOR, Wypadki, p. 2: Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, pp.8-9; and Lipski, KOR, pp.38-9. There were reports in later KOR materials about dismissals at some of these plants; e.g. KOR, Komunikat 4 (1976), in Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.98, reported that there were large dismissals at the General Swierczewski plant. This would seem to be further evidence of strike or stoppage activities.
32. RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/23 (1976), p. 12.
33. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p. 59; “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow o Zajsciach w Radomie” [Report of two Witnesses about the Events in Radom], Kultura 11:350 (1976), pp. 169-70; and “Ziema Radomska,” p. 2.
34. “Relacja Pracownika Radoskoru” [Report of a Worker in the Radom Leather Factory], Kultura 11:350 (1976), p. 175; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.2.
35. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.59-60; Blazynski, Flashpoint, p.259; Peter Raina, Political Opposition in Poland 1954-1957 (London: Poets and Painters Press, 1978), pp.232-3; “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” pp. 170 and 172; and Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, pp.7-8.
36. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 170; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.2.
37. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 170; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.2.
38. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 170; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.2.
39. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 171; Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.60; and “Ziema Radomska,” p. 2.
40. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” pp. 170-1; Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.60; and “Ziema Radomska,” pp.2-3.
41. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.70; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.3.
42. Pomian, Protokóły, pp.67, 99-100, 110, 263, and 300.
43. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” pp. 171-2.
44. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” pp. 170-1; Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.60; Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp.259-60; “Relacja Pracownika,” p. 175; Lipski, KOR, pp.32-3; “Ziema Radomska,” p. 3; and Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, pp. 7-8.
45. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” pp. 170-1; Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.60; Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp.259-60; “Relacja Pracownika,” p. 175; Lipski, KOR, pp.32-3; “Ziema Radomska,” p.3; and Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, pp.7-8.
46. “Ziema Radomska,” p. 3; and “Relacja Pracownika,” p. 175.
47. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 171; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.3.
48. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 171-2; Lipski, KOR, pp.32-3; Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, p.8; Biuletyn Informacyjny 8 (1977), in Raina, Political Opposition, pp. 524-5; “Komitet Organizacyny Obchodow V-Rodznicy Radomskiego Protestu Robotniczego z 25 Czerwca 1976 r.Radomski Czerwiec 76, pp. 10-11; and “Ziema Radomska,” p.3.
49. “Ziema Radomska,” p.4 and “Relacja Pracownika,” p. 176.
50. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” pp. 171-2 and “Relacja Pracownika,” p. 176.
51. “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,”. pp. 172-4.
52. “Ziema Radomska,” p.4; Biuletyn Dolnoslqski 6:13 (1980), p. 18; and “Relacja Pracownika,” p. 176.
53. “Ziema Radomska,” p.4 and “Relacja Dwoch Swiadow,” p. 173.
54. KOR, Komunikat 1 (1976), in Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.99-100; Biuletyn Dolnoslqski 6:13 (1980), p. 18; “Relacja Dwoch Swiadkow,” p. 173; and RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/23 (1976), p. 12.
55. “Ziema Radomska,” pp.7-10; Radomski Czenuiec 76, pp.8-13; KOR, Wypadki, pp.5-6; Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.60-1; and RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/23 (1976), p. 13.
56. “Relacja Robotnikow,” p. 31.
57. Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp. 260-1.
58. “Relacja Robotnikow,” pp. 31-2.
59. “Relacja Robotnikow,” p.32.
60. At this time it was common for Polish workers to work many hours overtime to make ends meet.
61. This is reference to December 1970 when the Polish Army fired on crowds of Polish workers killing some and wounding more.
62. “Relacja Robotnikow,” pp.32-3.
63. “Relacja Robotnikow,” p.33.
64. Lipski, KOR, pp. 38-9, and KOR, Wypadki, p. 3. The latter mentions dismissals at the Dairy Apparatus Factory in the immediate post-June period. I take this as an indication of workers' unrest there.
65. Lipski, KOR, p. 37; KOR, Komunikat 5 (1976), in Raina, Political Opposition, pp. 319-20; and Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, p.8.
66. Joseph Kay, “The Polish Opposition,” Survey 24:4 (1979), p.8; and KOR, Wypadki, p.2.
67. “Uzupelnienie Relacji z Kraju,” Aneks 12 (1976), p. 34.
68. “Uzupdnienie Relacji z Kraju,” Aneks 12 (1976), p. 34; Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, p.8; and Lipski, KOR, p.37.
69. Lipski, KOR, p.37; KOR Komunikat 5, in Raina, Political Opposition, pp.319-20; and Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, p.8.
70. “Uzupelnienie Relacji,” p. 34.
71. KOR, Komunikat 7, in Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.98-9; KOR, Wypadki, p.2; and RAD Research, Situation Report, Poland/22 (1977), p. 11.
72. KOR, Komunikat 7, in Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, pp.98-9; KOR, Wypadki, p.2; and KSS “KOR,” Komunikat 20 (1978), p.7.
73. These were the Defenders of Peace Cotton Factory, Dywilny, Elstery, ZTK, Teofilow, the Fornalska Clothing Factory, the Femina Knitting Factory, POLMO, Elty, the Walter Cotton Factory, the Olimpia Knitting Factory, the Elasicana Knitting Factory, ZHM, the Eskimo Knitting Factory, the Polanil Worsted Fabric Mill, and the Anilana Artificial Fiber Factory in Widzew.
74. Raina, Political Opposition, pp. 320-1; Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, pp.8-9; and Lipski, KOR, p. 38.
75. Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp. 260-1.
76. Robotnik 18 (1978), p. 1.
77. KOR, Komunikat 4, in Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.98.
78. Malgorzata Szejnert and Tomasz Zalewski, Szczecin, Grudzien-Sierpien-Grudzien [Szczecin, December-August-December] (London: Aneks, 1986), pp. 100-1.
79. Ostoja-Ostaszewski, Dissent, p.51; Kawalec, Democratyczna Opozycja, p.9; Lipski, KOR, pp.38-9; Blazynski, Flashpoint, pp.260-1.
80. See Roman Laba, “Worker Roots of Solidarity,” Problems of Communism 35:4 (1986).
81. Jadwiga Staniszkis, Poland's Self-limiting Revolution (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984), pp. 102 and 151 n.2.
82. He offered this as an explanation in a discussion which followed the presentation of an earlier draft of this paper at the Institute on East Central Europe, Columbia University, New York, on October 16, 1986.
83. Pomian, Protokóły, p.258.
84. Concise Statistical Yearbook of Poland (Warsaw: Central Statistical Office, 1984), p. 106.
85. This was strongly documented with primary materials by Roman Laba in a lecture presented to the Program on Non-violent Sanctions of the Center for International Affairs of Harvard University on October 8, 1986, entitled “The Polish Peoples' Army and the Workers' Strikes of December 1970.” This is also suggested in less reliable sources like Leopold Jerzewski, ed., Spojrzenie z Drugiej Strony, Relacja z Gdanska 1970 [The View from the Other Side, Report from Gdansk, 1970] (New York: Wydawnictwo Glos, 1982; first printing Warsaw, 1980), pp. 22-27 and 30-31, and Mieczyslaw Rakowski, Przesilenie Grudniowe [The December Crisis] (Warsaw: PIW, 1981), pp.41-5.
86. This was also brought out in Laba's paper presented at Harvard.
87. Pomian, Protokóły, p.263.