The Solidarity trade union in the north-western Baltic port of Szczecin is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the August Agreements, which paved the way for the legal acknowledgement of the Solidarity movement by communist authorities in 1980.
The ceremony was attended by President Bronislaw Komorowski, as well as Janusz Sniadek, chairman of the Solidarity trade union. Lech Walesa, the legendary Nobel-prize winning leader of the movement was not in Szczecin due to controversies surrounding the ongoing anniversary celebrations, also billed in Gdansk and Jastrzebie Zdroj over the coming days.
During the ceremony in Szczecin, President Komorowski awarded 19 people associated with the creation of the Solidarity movement in the north-west with state decorations, and spoke of the need of the ruling powers to be in dialogue with the trade unions.
Komorowski added that trade unions need to play an important role in the transformations witnessed by contemporary Poland, and mused that trade unions are like Solidarity 30 years ago: a common conscience for workers’ rights. Poland’s president said that trade unions should also heed to a need for compromise with authorities, however.
Speaking at the ceremony, Solidarity trade union leader, Janusz Sniadek lamented that this year’s anniversary is taking place in the shadow of the Smolensk air crash, which killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others.
Sniadek also raised the issue of the demise of Polish shipyards, stating that other European countries are trying to save their shipping industries. The Solidarity leader underlined that Solidarity has a duty to protect the shipbuilding industry, which employs thousands.
Apart from official ceremonies, a special concert is being staged in the Baltic port of Gdansk, commonly referred to as the home of Solidarity.
The ongoing Solidarity of Arts festival is to premiere “Vivo XXX” a 70-minute oratorium penned for the anniversary by Pawel Mykietyn, one of Poland’s young star composers. (jb)
Source: IAR
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