Posted on 08/22/2006 9:55:37 AM PDT by redwhit
Back to Story - Help Poland's Walesa quits Solidarity union By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago
Lech Walesa said Tuesday he has quit the Solidarity trade union that he founded and which helped bring down communism in Eastern Europe. "I have given up my membership last year because Solidarity and I have gone separate ways," he told The Associated Press.
Walesa also said he plans to stay away from events marking the 26th anniversary of Solidarity's founding on Aug. 31 in part because he disapproves of the union's support for Poland's new conservative leaders.
The 62-year-old Nobel Peace laureate said he left after Solidarity members ignored his criticism of their support for the Law and Justice Party and its leaders, twin brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, during last fall's election campaign.
Lech Kaczynski won the presidency and Jaroslaw is now prime minister.
"When my arguments were not reaching them, I gave instructions to terminate my membership," Walesa said. "It is not over the Kaczynskis, but that was the last straw."
"I am not paying my fees any more," he added.
Walesa founded Solidarity in 1980 at the shipyards in Gdansk. It was a broad social movement made up of workers and intellectuals that opposed communism.
Despite being forced underground in the harsh martial law crackdown begun in 1981, it persevered and eventually succeeded in helping to bring down the communist regime in 1989.
Since then, it has become a trade union like any other, representing a range of workers. Although it has lost much of its original influence, it is the second-largest trade union in the country and its members are a visible presence during worker protests.
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I don't know the backstory here but it should prove interesting. Thoughts?
ping
Welcome, and thanks for this post! I find it intersting that he comes to quit so easily. Perhaps he has higher aspirations now, or plans to retire completely. Off to look for more...
Good post.
"I have given up my membership last year because Solidarity and I have gone separate ways,"
Well, so much for 'Solidarity'.
that unions outlive their usefulness is apparently made an axiom by this story.
ping.
I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Walesa a few years ago. He would be a great stand up comedian. He has perfect comdic timing, even when using an interpreter.
I went to college with his son.
ping
I think there might be more to that than you know. I seem to recall reading that Mr. Walesa has been dissatisfied with both Solidarnosc and the government for some time but I can't remember where I read that (sorry - fighting the flu and writing a thesis at the same time is the best way to turn the brain into silly putty).
If I'm not mistaken, "The Economist" has had some recent (within the past year) atuff on this.
People I knew at the time did not respect him anyway. They claimed he wasn't who he pretended to be. They predicted this eons ago.
Fascinating for me to see it come to pass. Bet he got his palms well greased. May God uncover and reveal all the undercovers things going on here and strengthen the Polish people to smack him aside and walk upright away from him.
Yeah, all he ever did was bring about the downfall of Communism in Europe.
Anonymous Sierra If you are still active on FR, would you please give us your (Polish) views on this?
the downfall of Communism in Europe.
Yes. Jarek's a good guy.
It is a pity that Walesa is unable to reconcile with former Solidarity buddies while on the other hand invite ex-commies to his birthday parties.
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