HR0918LRB101 22160 ECR 73187 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, August 31, 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the 
3founding of the Solidarnosc, or Solidarity, trade union in 
4Poland; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Poland's government raised food 
6prices while wages were stagnant; this and other stresses led 
7to protests and a subsequent government crackdown on dissent; 
8on August 7, 1980, tension was further raised when shipyard 
9worker Anna Walentynowicz was fired five months before 
10retirement from the Gdansk Shipyard for participation in an 
11illegal trade union; her firing enraged the  shipyard workers,  
12who then staged a strike on August 14; on August 31, 1980,  the 
13communist government in Poland and striking workers signed  the 
14Gdansk agreements, which allowed the Solidarnosc trade union to 
15exist; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, The Solidarnosc trade union is recognized around 
17the world as a beacon of hope and as a symbol of the nonviolent 
18fight for freedom and equality; Solidarity was the first of its 
19kind in a Soviet bloc country and played an instrumental role 
20in ending communism in Poland and Eastern Europe; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Support from Polish Americans during  the strike 
22was a significant factor for the workers' victory; American 
 
 
HR0918- 2 -LRB101 22160 ECR 73187 r

1support for the workers brought this issue forward in 
2international politics and placed significant pressure on the 
3Polish government to reach an equitable agreement; therefore, 
4be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
7we commend the contributions Polish Americans played in 
8supporting Polish solidity during turbulent times in the 1980s.