The Gdańsk Agreement: A Strike That Changed Poland

In August 1980, a shipyard gate in Gdańsk, Poland, stood between striking workers and the city outside. Behind it, workers had stopped building ships. Their dispute with the government began over wages and working conditions, but it grew into a struggle over who had the right to speak for workers. On August 31, representatives of the strikers and the government signed an agreement that would help reshape Poland’s future.

Why workers went on strike

At the time, Poland was governed by a Communist Party that controlled political life. The government also directed much of the economy. Many workers struggled with shortages and rising prices, while they had limited ways to challenge official decisions. Trade unions existed, but they were controlled by the authorities rather than acting independently on workers’ behalf.

In the summer of 1980, price increases helped trigger strikes across Poland. At the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, workers stopped work on August 14. One immediate issue was the firing of Anna Walentynowicz, a crane operator and labor activist. Workers demanded her return as well as higher pay and other changes. Lech Wałęsa, an electrician who had previously worked at the shipyard, became a leading figure in the strike.