Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa : The anniversary of signing the Jastrzęskie Understandings

Striking miners from the former mine Manifest Lipcowy, and today's Zofiówka to 21 postulates from Gdansk and Szczecin - joined their own ones. These are, among others, free Saturdays and Sundays. Miners also won the abolition of the four-crew work system in mines and raised their earnings in line with rising living costs. The principle of unconditional voluntary work on statutory holidays was also adopted.

The Chairman of Solidarity emphasized that the miners from Jastrzebie- Zdrój showed a great courage and determination in the struggle against communist rule in 1980. - 'Like every year, for almost thirty years, officially, previously unofficially, we meet in these very happy days in many parts of our homeland, to remember and celebrate this wonderful event. We meet because we feel that need in our hearts' said Piotr Duda, the Chairman of Solidarity.

All the postulates of August 1980, wherever they were listed - in Gdansk, Szczecin Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Katowice - were primarily social. Many workers were afraid. The miners had in their memory that earlier the communist authorities suppressed such attempts by armed forces. Today the monument of the Jastrzębskie Understandings reminds us of the events that happened 37 years ago. Flowers are laid here every year on 3 September.