“There would be no independent Poland if it were not for Lech Bądkowski”, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who today in Gdańsk took part in the unveiling ceremony of the monument to Lech Bądkowski – a signatory of the Gdańsk Agreement, the first spokesman of the NSZZ “Solidarność” and a promoter of the idea of self-government. The 44th anniversary of the signing of the August Agreements was also celebrated by President Andrzej Duda, who took part in the ceremonial meeting of the Board of Directors of the Gdańsk Region of the NSZZ “Solidarność” in the legendary Occupational Health and Safety Hall of the Gdańsk Shipyard. “Always speak out, take care of the Republic of Poland”, the president told the NSZZ activists.
Today, in the Old Town of Gdańsk, the unveiling ceremony of the monument to Lech Bądkowski – signatory of the Gdańsk Agreement, first spokesman of the NSZZ “Solidarity” and promoter of the idea of self-government – took place.
The ceremony was attended by, among others: Prime Minister Donald Tusk, government representatives, Tricity local government officials, members of the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association, members of parliament and residents of Gdańsk.
Tusk: He was a man of flesh and blood
The head of government recalled that Lech Bądkowski was a man of “flesh and blood”.
Extremely pragmatic, very Pomeranian, very Kashubian. A man who always told me when we first met (…) when he edited, together with the young people present here today, the first Solidarity newspaper, “Autogoverno. Then, when we were in this exact place, he always warned us, and those were the months of revolutionary fever, it was right after the August strike. He always said, remember, always put common sense before any ideology. Remember to distinguish courage from bravado
– said Tusk.
As he said, he was also “an absolutely unique and one-of-a-kind character” because he had no problem remaining true to the principle throughout his life: “act boldly, but with caution.”
He also told me: if someone threatens your loved ones, your family, your homeland – punch him in the head, don’t think twice. But if in politics you have the opportunity to build a common space and avoid revenge, be generous.
– said Tusk.
As he added, Bądkowski also used to say that “hope is more important than certainty”. The Prime Minister thanked the initiators of the construction of the monument for choosing August 31 as the date for its inauguration.
There would be no Solidarity, there would be no independent Poland, there would be no globally peaceful and very responsible process of building this new Poland, if it were not for Lech Bądkowski.
– emphasized the Prime Minister.
He noted that no one realizes how much today’s Poland owes to “this cold mind and at the same time a warm heart.”
There was no better defender of patriotism – I believe for all of us gathered here – than Lech Bądkowski
– observed the Prime Minister.
Politicians, local government officials and representatives of the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association present at the ceremony laid flowers at the monument of Lech Bądkowski, which stood at the intersection of Świętojańska and Minogi streets.
In August 1980, Lech Bądkowski, as a representative of the Costa writers, supported the striking shipyard workers. From 21 August 1980, he was a member of the presidium of the Inter-Company Strike Committee at the Gdańsk Shipyard, spokesman and member of the group that negotiated the Gdańsk Agreements.
Lech Bądkowski suffered from cancer since the late 1970s and died on 24 February 1984 at his home in Gdańsk. He was buried at the Srebrzysko cemetery in Gdańsk.
Danuta Wałęsa appeals to the government
On behalf of former President Lech Wałęsa, the first leader of “Solidarity”, his wife Danuta Wałęsa spoke at the celebrations in Gdańsk.
I hope that next year – during the 45th anniversary – there will be many more of us here. I would dream that “the other side”, which has gone further, would also be with us.
– she emphasized.
Danuta Wałęsa appealed to the current government.
I encourage you not to rest on your laurels, but to fight together for a better tomorrow for all of us. For children and grandchildren.
she said.
According to the former president’s wife, “after the election of the new government, we have justice and we will continue to fight for this right.”
The first leader of “Solidarity”, Lech Wałęsa, said in an interview with PAP that he would not participate in the celebrations.
The signing of the August Accords was a great and incredible victory. However, the nation currently does not appreciate it and ignores it. I am offended by this and will not participate in this year’s anniversary celebrations.
– he said.
READ ALSO: Walesa will not participate in the August 80 celebrations! “The nation currently does not appreciate this and disregards it. I feel offended by this”
President Duda at the Occupational Health and Safety Show
A ceremonial meeting of the board of directors of the Gdańsk region of NSZZ “Solidarność” was held in the Health and Safety Hall of the Gdańsk Shipyard with the participation of President Andrzej Duda. After two terms in office, President Duda celebrated the anniversary of the signing of the August Agreements for the tenth time in this way.
Then, in the August Agreements, these demands, which are still a reminder of that time, not just a museum artifact, but Polish reality – as we know, not always fulfilled – included not only demands for dignity. The workers, the people of “Solidarity” supported by the intelligentsia, demanded not only wages, not only bread. They also demanded an honest and trustworthy state.
– said Andrzej Duda in his speech.
In fact, what they really wanted was a sovereign and independent state. But, most importantly, they were then ready to take real responsibility for the Republic of Poland. Because they knew that elections were shit. They knew from the famous “3 times yes” that the commune could steal and lie, they had no doubt that the vote cast at that moment might not be valid. But their presence, their participation, their sea of minds, has its own political power. And through this power, one assumes responsibility for the Republic of Poland. And “Solidarity” assumed this responsibility.
– he emphasized.
The President called on “Solidarity” to “take care of the Republic of Poland” and talk about state affairs.
“Solidarity” does not want to govern, but it maintains and wants to safeguard the basic values resulting from Catholic social doctrine, the Decalogue, as well as the inherent right of every human being to dignity and to live in adequate and appropriate conditions. The obligation to provide them lies with the State and the people directly responsible for the exercise of power. Therefore, “Solidarity” has the right to speak on behalf of workers, employees and society. And thank you for taking
– he said.
READ MORE:
-President Duda to “Solidarity”: Always speak, take care of the Republic of Poland. You are an emanation of society
-44th anniversary of the August Accords. This is how “Solidarity” was born. 1980 Poland began the dismantling of the communist system
Zbigniew Janas: These demands are still impressive
Zbigniew Janas – an opposition activist in the times of the Polish People’s Republic, who headed the trade union “Solidarity” in Ursus, and later became a member of the National Committee of the NSZZ “Solidarność” – assessed in an interview with PAP that most of the things that trade unionists fought for have been achieved.
These demands continue to impress. It is true that there are some misleading demands, but in reality we were fighting for justice and dignity for citizens. Some of them (postulates) are political, but they belong to the people simply because they are people. We called for the possibility of creating trade unions, freedom of speech, permission to strike, etc. Of course, depending on your opinion, some will be more and others less satisfied, but if we look at it, most of them have been implemented.
– he said.
Janas assessed that divisions in society still persist, but what distinguishes the times of the Polish People’s Republic from the present is the fact that nowadays one can use various media that are not censored.
Today you can discuss and argue whether, for example, televisions are one way or another, after all we all have different opinions, but everyone, both left and right, has their newspapers, their televisions, they have radios and the like. What makes me happy is the fact that now it is possible for them (the media) to be there and let them be. After all, the shipyard strikers fought, among others, for freedom of expression. They talked about censorship, which does not exist in a democratic country and I hope that none of that comes back.
– he said.
Recalling the fight for trade union rights, he said that “Poles are known for this, that in these difficult times they managed to sit down and break the old divisions between them and often the hatred between them to reach an agreement.”
People are different, they have different opinions. When August started and the agreement was signed, it was obvious that not everyone joined Solidarity. However, at that time I didn’t hear anyone complaining about our relationship. We really fought for these people in the factories, for dignity and justice.
““I fought a long time to keep politics free.”
According to the former oppositionist, there are divisions today, which makes it difficult to talk to each other about political issues, and politics is sometimes conducted in an aggressive manner. Janas said that this could be a time of transition and a compromise could be reached. When asked if he felt disappointed with the way politics followed the times of the Polish People’s Republic, he said that he looked at it with great detachment because he fought for “politics to be free”.
We still have divisions, yes. We have such divisions now that it is very difficult to talk to each other, but I think that this can be overcome and changed. Am I disappointed? How could I? That is what I fought for so many years. I spent a large part of my life fighting for political freedom, so that politicians could argue where they should, for example on TV, instead of shooting at each other. Because of this fight, I look at the current disputes with a lot of detachment.
– he said.
Zbigniew Janas, born in Warsaw in 1953, was an activist of the democratic opposition during the times of the Polish People’s Republic. In the years 1978-1980 he cooperated with the Social Self-Defence Committee “KOR” and then – after the creation of the trade union “Solidarity” – he joined it and headed its Ursus branch in Warsaw. In 1981 he belonged to the National Committee of the NSZZ “Solidarność”. In the years 1989-2000 he was a member of the Sejm in the 10th, 1st, 2nd and 3rd terms. He was active in, among others, the Civic Movement Democratic Action; Democratic Union; Freedom Union and the Democratic Party – demokraci.pl.
44 years ago on 17th, in the health and safety hall of the Gdańsk Shipyard, an agreement was signed between the government and the Shipyard strike committee, representing more than 700 factories from all over Poland; the government delegation agreed, among other things, on the creation of new independent and autonomous trade unions, on the right to strike, on the construction of a monument to the victims of December 1970, on the broadcasting of Sunday masses on Polish Radio and on limiting censorship; a provision was also adopted according to which the new trade unions would recognize the leading role of the Polish United Workers’ Party in the state; the signing ceremony of the agreement was broadcast by TVP. The agreement signed by MKS Chairman Lech Wałęsa and Deputy Prime Minister Mieczysław Jagielski led to the creation of the NSZZ “Solidarność” – the first legal trade union organization in communist countries, independent of the authorities.
aja/PAP, wPolityce.pl, Interia.pl
