Poland
Content about workers' struggles and events in Poland.
Migration, industry and struggles in Poland, 1956-2005
An analysis of Poland, its economy, its social and political history and how it has been shaped by workers' struggles past and present.
Behind the Border
It is only a one hour journey from Berlin to the German-Polish border, the supermarkets in Berlin offer Polish food, immigrants from Poland are part of daily life in the German capital - nevertheless there are not many direct contacts (apart from perhaps the punk scene). The ‘iron curtain’ is slow to dissolve, due to languages and the geographical location.
Strikes in Poland, early 2005
Information about various workers' struggles in and around Poland, including strikes by seamen, railworkers, car and telecoms workers in 2005.
Here is an update on recent struggles in and around Poland. More information in English can be found on a website run by the base-unionist ‘workers’ initiative’ from Poland: http://paspartoo.w.interia.pl/index.htm
Polish seamen on strike for eleven days in the docklands of Travemünde/Germany
Halemba mine tragedy: the high costs of greed and outsourcing
No worker should not have gone into the mine that day. But Halemba sent in some unqualified contractors. Laure Akai reports.
Previous libcom.org coverage here.
Poland postal strike: new developments
An update on the postal workers strike in Poland. As it has spread bosses have offered a pay increase, but way below workers' demands.
As of now, mail carriers in many cities have joined the strike, but not all of them. Most post offices are working and accepting mail, even if they are not delivering. The exceptions are in Warsaw in the Praga District where the 2nd PO in the city was shut down and in Szczecin where 23 POs have closed during the strike.
Polish miners killed, trapped in massive blast
8 miners have been killed and 15 more remain trapped following an explosion in a deep coal mine yesterday in Ruda Slaska, Southern Poland. Reports suggest the miners were knowingly put at risk to recover company property.
Update 23/11/06: The death toll has now risen to 23, with no survivors.
Poland: Postal workers strike
Mail carriers across Poland are strike for better pay and working conditions. Polish anarchists report on the stoppage and actions they have taken to support it.
On Nov. 13, a wildcat strike of mail carriers started in the Gdansk post office. Now the strike has been taken over by different unions, mostly Solidarity, and has spread to most major cities in Poland.
The mail carriers' demands include:
- an 8 hour work day for all workers of the Polish Post (most mail carriers work 10-12 hours daily)
Polish work gangs in Britain
This is the summary of a collectively revised discussion paper including fact briefing on the Crewe Polish migrant worker scandal and its possible solution, written by Martin Kraemer after helping out in translating between Crewe unionists and Polish migrant workers, June 2005
1903-1981: Anarchism in Poland
An account of anarchist ideas and practice in Poland through the 20th century.
An anarchist movement of Narodnik (Russian anti-capitalist democratic activists of the late 19th century) and anarchist ideas from Russia and Western Europe came into existence at the turn of the 20th century.
8. Poland Erupts
Poland Erupts
"The working class could not be the leading and most progressive section of the nation if reactionary forces were able to find support in its ranks. 'Agents provocateurs' or reactionaries have never been the inspiration of the working class; they are not and they never will be."
Gomulka, Polish Facts and Figures (November, 1, 1956).
Malaquais, Jean, 1908-1998
A biography of writer, council communist and "stateless person", Jean Malaquais.
Stateless Person
