To the workers of the world
Appeal from the TKK for May Day
In the name of the self-managed independent trade union Solidarnosc, in the name of the Polish workers, we extend our greetings to the workers of the world for this May Day. Polish workers will demonstrate on this day under the banner of international solidarity.
The festival of May 1 was born in the struggle for the dignity of human labour. In 1886, in Chicago, workers paid with their lives for the right to their own trade-union representation. For us, the Polish workers, Chicago was repeated in Gdansk 1970, in Silesia 1981, in Lublin in 1982. And we are aware that it could be repeated many times again.
In the countries governed by the Communists the trade-union movement has been destroyed, and the fake tradeunions placed totally under the control of the State-Party-Boss. In August 1980, for the first time in one of the countries of actually existing socialism," we, by our struggle, won the right to independent trade unions. The Comunist regime, feeling its monopoly of power threatened, refused to accept this.
On December 13, 1981, the counter-
For more than a year, our trade union continued its activity illegally, in conditions of police terror. Thousands of Solidarnose activists passed through the internment camps and prisons. Thousands of others are still languishing there, under harsh sentences. Strikers and demonstrators have been assaulted, hundreds among them have been crippled, several dozen murdered in cold blood, for having desired to defend their liberty and their dignity.
Repression continues. Trade-union activists are being sacked, many factories have been militarised. The setting up of forced labour camps has been announced. People have been persecuted for exercising their natural human rights. Arrests and political trials continue. At present, preparations are underway for the trial of seven members of the highest level of the trade-union leadership, who have been in prison for 15 months. The stage is also being set for show trials of the ex-members of KOR (Committee for Workers Self Defence). The Polish government has violated every international agreement on workers and citizens
Ju of workers, nor fighting to institute social and economic reforms in Poland. We are struggling to get the right to legal activity, freedom for the political prisoners, a stop to the hunting down of activists of the independent trade union. We will act with determination, perseverance, and good sense. Our objective is social peace based on respect for the laws that the society recognises as its own. Only then, can the labor of millions of Poles bring about cultural enrichment and material well-being for the entire people.
The workers showed, when they organised demonstrations year ago, that, for the labour movement in Poland, May 1 has become a day of struggle for social rights.
We are not alone in our fight. From the first days of August 1980, we have been able to see the support of workers throughout the world. On the eve of this May Day we thank the trade unions of other countries, as well as the organisations, and all those who have acted as individuals, whose devotion is proof revolution hit back.
Once again, like one hundred years ago, workers' blood flowed.
Tanks and machine guns were turned
It has trampled underfoot all of their trade unions, we extend our against unarmed people, in order to destroy the independent trade-union movement.
rights it has signed. It has broken all the agreements it has made with its own society. its declarations.
Solidarnosc will not allow itself to be destroyed. Solidarnose lives, and is well rooted in the enterprises. The trade union continues its actions, and will not give up defending the rights of human solidarity.
For all those workers who still have to take the first step towards the creation greetings and our warm encouragement.
To those who live in the democratic countries, we express our hope that they will persevere in developing and strengthening an movement.
Here in Poland we are not fighting simply for ourselves. We are profoundly convinced that our struggle has a universal dimension. It widens the area of liberty and justice in today's world. We need your support. This May Day -demonstrate your solidarity with the struggle of the Polish workers.
Zbigniew Bujak (Warsaw), Wladyslaw Hardek (Cracow), Bogdan Lis (Gdansk), Jozef Pinior (Wroclaw), Eugeniusz Szumiejko (member of the Praesidium of the National Commission).
Temporary Co-Ordinating Committee of the self-managed, independent trade union, Solidarnosc.
March 23, 1983