Hundreds Defy Walesa, Strike at 2 Shipyards

Hundreds of workers at two Gdansk shipyards defied Solidarity leader Lech Walesa today and went on strike to demand that the government drop plans to close the Lenin Shipyard. Walesa called the strikes “a warning to the authorities.”

Walesa said the strikes were in defiance of his banned trade federation and prove that he is losing control of Poland’s restive workers. He called for moderation and indicated that he might be willing to conduct talks with authorities even before the shipyard question is resolved.

His statement appeared to be a retreat from his earlier demand that the Lenin Shipyard closure be suspended before the talks begin.

Speaking to reporters after strikes began at the two smaller Gdansk shipyards, Walesa said that he had urged the workers not to strike but that they defied him.

“This situation indicates that Lech Walesa and his group are losing control. It is a warning for myself and a warning to the authorities,” he said.

“I don’t want to go on strike. I want to settle the problems of the round table and the Solidarity trade union, not to get the country deeper into crisis,” Walesa said.

The government said the nation’s largest shipyard, the birthplace of Solidarity, will be closed in December because it is losing money. Solidarity said the closure is a politically motivated attempt to cripple the movement.

Some workers at Wisla Shipyard and Repair Shipyard today declared strikes in a show of unity to demand preservation of the Lenin yard. Earlier, Walesa led more than 6,000 workers in a rally at the Lenin yard opposing the government closure order.

Wisla Shipyard management would not confirm any work stoppage, but reporters saw banners at the yard and were told by strike committee leader Jan Stanecki that nearly half the 1,000 employees are refusing to work.