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Najdłuższy strajk w Nowej Hucie. Robotniczy protest w Kombinacie Metalurgicznym Huta im. Lenina (26 kwiecień – 5 maj 1988)

100%

Malik A.

Sowiniec

2012

issue 41

27-52

As the result of dramatic increases in food prices introduced by the communist authorities in February 1988, the population of the People’s Republic of Poland became increasingly deeply impoverished. This situation contributed to the outbreak of the next social rebellion. On April 26, 1988 the rolling mill worker, Andrzej Szewczuwianiec, started the longest strike in the history of Krakow’s Nowa Huta district and its steelworks. As a result of their demands, the strikers were initially limited to economic relief, but over time they included additional points with a “Solidarity” overtone to them. The steelworkers demanded pay raises not only for themselves, but also for those employed in other sectors, such as education and health care. They also demanded raises for pensioners,,the reinstatement of their colleagues and amnesty for their activities in the underground structures of the “Solidarity” movement. The protest initially involved about 5,000 striking employees, eventually falling to 3,000. The negotiations were interrupted during the night of 4/5 May by the intervention of the communist police troops. Some strike leaders were arrested and a large group of striking steelworkers were brutally mauled by the intervening police. The striking steelworkers were still able to win wage increases. They also openly began their activities to revive the Independent Self-governing Trade Union “Solidarity”. The strike of April and May at the Nowa Huta Steelworks spurred all Polish workers to action, and was a prelude to the August protests that forced the communist authorities to negotiate with the public

NIEPOKORNA NOWA HUTA. Manifestacje i walki uliczne w latach 1982-1983

100%

Malik A.

Sowiniec

2012

issue 40

45-88

The fi ght for the restoration of legal activity of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” and a democratisation of life in the People’s Republic of Poland was based on the passive resistance method, without turning to violence, in accordance to the teachings of the Pope John Paul II. One of such forms of bloodless resistance was peaceful street manifestations. The manifestations were, however, met with brutal pacifi cation by the Militia and ZOMO, which especially in case of the fi rst manifestations in Krakow, taking place on the Market Square, after the Holly Masses in St. Mary’s Church, was resulting in raids in the narrow streets surrounding the Market Square and mass beatings of the participants. The Steelworkers’ March, organised on the 30th of April 1982 by the “Solidarity” Restoration Committee, however, was a success: it started at the main gate of Vladimir Lenin Steelworks and proceeded towards the Central Square. This march did not cause any ZOMO intervention, and was attended by tens of thousands of people. The success of that manifestation and the characteristic layout of Nowa Huta, with its broad streets and alleys, densely populated, surrounded by a high number of building estates, added to moving street manifestation to this youngest district of Krakow. The centre of such manifestation was the Church of The Mother of God Queen of Poland, also called, due to the characteristic shape of its roof, “The Arc of Lord”. Manifestations in Nowa Huta, in spite of their peaceful character, did not usually end in peace, as the participants, faced with brutal attempts of their pacifi cation by the Militia and ZOMO, were often attempting resistance and fought with the armed prevention forces. The specifi c character of Nowa Huta was giving protesters a chance and usually was prolonging the fi ghts in the district to late nigh hours, forcing the Communist government to look for reinforcement troops from around the country. The fi ghts were often bloody and led to casualties. During the demonstration on the 13th of October 1982, a 20 year old steelworker Bogdan Włosik had been shot by an SB offi cer. This murder caused the fi ghts to be prolonged for a few days. Over half a year later, on the 1st of May 1983, another inhabitant of Nowa Hura, Ryszard Smagur, was killed by an unknown Militia offi cer. The visit of the Pope John Paul II in Poland and the appeal of the underground management of “Solidarity” cooled down the atmosphere for a couple of months, but even the suspension of the State of War on the 22nd of July 1983, with the legal preservation of its rigours, did not stop further street protests. During the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of signing the Gdansk Agreement, on the 31st of August 1983, there were further fi ght, during which three NOMO offi cers from Myslenice had been disarmed. As the result of shooting a couple of petards fi lled with tear gas into an apartment by ZOMO, another victim, Janina Drabowska, died. Among the victims was also Andrzej Szewczyk, who died after being beaten up by a militia patrol, and Janusz Bielik, an employee of Vladimir Lenin Steelworks and an AGH student, who in result of being shot by a petard lost his eye, fell ill and eventually passed away 6 years later, in 1988 As summed up at the end of 1983 by the editing board of the underground periodical “Solidarność Zwycięży” (Solidarity will Prevail), in years 1982-1983 there were 19 protestation marches. Among them there were 10 Steelworkers Marches from the main gate of Vladimir Lenin Steelworks, 6 marches starting from “The Arc of Lord” and 3 marches starting from other points in the district. Only two of the Steelworkers Marches were not attacked by ZOMO. 7 meetings and manifestations also took place in the same period. The street manifestations in Nowa Huta in years 1982-1983 were attended by thousands of people from Krakow and its surroundings, protesting against the actions of the Communist government. The participants of these manifestations were in danger of being caught and arrested, given enormous fi nes, not to mention the risk of beatings and the threat to their life and health. In spite of that, the manifestations were extremely popular and brought Nowa Huta the name of one of the strongholds of “Solidarity” in the country.

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Najdłuższy strajk w Nowej Hucie. Robotniczy protest w Kombinacie Metalurgicznym Huta im. Lenina (26 kwiecień – 5 maj 1988)

NIEPOKORNA NOWA HUTA. Manifestacje i walki uliczne w latach 1982-1983