Congress passes joint resolution marking Solidarity's 25th anniversary

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) on July 18 introduced Senate Resolution 198 - a resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1980 worker's strike in Poland and the birth of the Solidarity Trade Union, the first free and independent trade union established in the Soviet-dominated countries of Europe. Joining her as co-sponsors were 19 other senators.

The resolution was passed by unanimous consent on July 26.

The legislation marks the anniversary of the formation of Solidarity, the trade union that was created under the leadership of Lech Walesa to promote human rights, democracy and the end of Soviet oppression. The legislation also recognizes the workers' strike of 1980, in which members of Solidarity rallied shipyard workers in Gdansk and Szczecin against Communist oppression, making 21 demands for political freedom, and beginning what became known as the Solidarity movement.

The demands of the striking workers were met by the Communist government, but due to the continued threat Solidarity posed to the Communist regime, the movement was censored under martial law. Solidarity, however, continued its advocacy as an underground movement. In 1989 Solidarity was officially recognized by the Communist government of Poland and allowed to participate in roundtable discussions. This was one of the first steps toward achieving the democratic goals of the Solidarity movement, which would be continued with Poland's 1989 elections.

The resolution pays tribute to the courage of Poles who so valiantly rallied against the Communist regime and led the way for the people of other Eastern European countries to challenge Communist oppression. In addition to saluting Poland's anniversary, the resolution recognizes Poland's role as a continued friend of the United States, as a fellow member of NATO and as a key ally in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Polish American Congress, as President Virginia Sikora noted, was formed in 1945 to help "free Poland and fight against communism." The organization was approached in March 1980 to achieve just that by an envoy sent by Lech Walesa to provide humanitarian and legislative support for the fledgling Solidarity movement. According to PAC National Executive Director Les Kuczynski, the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation distributed over $200 million worth of humanitarian and medical supplies to Solidarity Sympathizers by the early 1990s, "from infant foods and powdered milk to clothing, hoes, books and farm equipment."

A companion bill, House Resolution 328, sponsored by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) and 27 co-sponsors, was passed by a vote of 385-0 on July 18 in the House of Representatives.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, August 28, 2005, No. 35, Vol. LXXIII

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