Lech Walesa Biography

Marries Danuta Golos

Foundation of illegal TU of shipyard workers

Solidaritys first national congress elect Lech Walesa as a president and adopts a republican program, the "Self-governing Republic"

Solidaritys first national congress elect Lech Walesa as a president and adopts a republican program, the "Self-governing Republic". Solidarity is organized as an industrial union, according to the One Big Union principle, along the lines of the Industrial Workers of the World and the Spanish Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo (workers in every trade was organized by region)

An independent & democratic trade union by the end of the year has over 10,000 members

Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners

16,000 strike for political freedom & lower food prices

Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners

Solidarnosc, the independent trade union that emerged from the Lenin Shipyard strike, becomes a labor movement representing workers led by chairman Walesa

16,000 strike for political freedom & lower food prices

Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners

Solidarnosc, the independent trade union that emerged from the Lenin Shipyard strike, becomes a labor movement representing workers led by chairman Walesa

The Communist Government authorizes the increase in food prices for the summer of 1980, a revival of labor disturbances erupts throughout Poland, workers in the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk go on strike

Workers have the right to strike & organise independent unions

Workers have the right to strike & organise independent unions

Solidarity was founded at the Lenin Shipyards, where Lech Walesa and others formed a broad anti-communist social movement ranging from people associated with the Catholic Church to members of the anti-communist Left

Solidarity was founded at the Lenin Shipyards, where Lech Walesa and others formed a broad anti-communist social movement ranging from people associated with the Catholic Church to members of the anti-communist Left

Solidarity goes underground. Jaruzelski bans Solidarity. The Government attempts to destroy the union with the martial law of 1981 and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. Membership of Solidarity rises to 9 million

Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes

John Paul II meets Lech Walesa at the Vatican

Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike

Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike

Appointed Chairman of Solidarity

Solidaritys 1st national congress

Walesa is arrested by Jaruzelski, who fears Polish invasion

Solidarity goes underground. Jaruzelski bans Solidarity

The Government attempts to destroy the union with the martial law of 1981 and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. Jaruzelski declares martial law

Martial Law is suspended

Walesa is released from prison

The press criticises Walesas Nobel prize. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for human rights

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for human rights

Walesa returns to work at the Lenin Shipyard

Police break up the May Day demonstrations across Poland

Police break up the May Day demonstrations across Poland

Outlawed Solidarity leadership forms the Citizens Committee. Negotiates with the Governments Central Committee

Political prisoners are released

Solidarity is legalized

Solidarity is legalized

Solidarity is legalized. Political prisoners are released

Solidarity strikes lead to negotiation with the Government

The Roundtable Talks between the Government and Solidarity-led opposition lead to semi-free elections in 1989

Solidarity wins every seat in the Sejim. Solidarity wins 99 out of 100 seats in the Senate

Limited free elections take place. The Roundtable Talks between the Government and Solidarity-led opposition lead to semi-free elections in 1989

The Roundtable Talks between the Government and Solidarity-led opposition lead to semi-free elections in 1989

The Roundtable Talks between the Government and Solidarity-led opposition lead to semi-free elections in 1989

Solidarity & the Government sign an agreement legalizing Solidarity. Solidarity is legalized

The Government legalizes Solidarity

Solidarity & the Government sign an agreement legalizing Solidarity. Solidarity is legalized

The Government legalizes Solidarity

The ban on Solidarity is lifted. Solidarity & the Government sign an agreement legalizing Solidarity. Solidarity must not strike for 2 yrs

Limited free elections take place

A Solidarity-led coalition Government is formed

3rd person in history after Churchill & Lafayette to address the US Congress

By the end of August a Solidarity-led coalition Government is formed and in December Tadeusz Mazowiecki is elected Prime Minister

Price controls are lifted & Government subsidies are eliminated. Currency made convertible with exchange set at black market rate. Launches privatization reforms. Communists in the Sejim hold up privatization & western aid

Communists in the Sejim hold up privatization & western aid

Launches privatization reforms

Resigns as Party Leader of Solidarity

Price controls are lifted & Government subsidies are eliminated. Currency made convertible with exchange set at black market rate

Germany & Poland sign a Treaty confirming their border at the Oder-Neisse line

Germany & Poland sign a Treaty confirming their border at the Oder-Neisse line

Wins a landslide election victory. Appointed President of Poland after winning landslide election victory

Appointed President of Poland after winning landslide election victory

Nominates Bielicki as Prime Minister

Appoints Olszewski is Prime Minister after the election

Unemployment jumps from 7,000 at end of 1989 to 2 million in 1991. Inflation increases to 70%. 27m adults to receive vouchers equivalent to mutual funds, $9,000 each

Inflation increases to 70%

10% decline in output and Russia shuts off gas supplies

Russian troops start to leave Poland

Russian troops start to leave Poland

Goal to privatize 7,000 enterprises by end of 1994

Reformed Communists enter a coaltion Government

Defeated during the Presidential elections by Kwasniewski, a former communist

Defeated during the Presidential elections by Kwasniewski, a former communist

Former Polish communist apparatchik Aleksandr Kwasniewski wins the presidency having used slick western-style campaign tactics to gain a narrow victory over Lech Walesa