Walesa lays flowers outside historic shipyard on 1980 August agreement anniversary

photos- PAP Adam Warżawa

The first leader of the Solidarity trade union appeared in front of the shipyard yard before the official ceremonies later today in honour of the social contract with the communist, which legalised the trade union after weeks of strikes in the summer of 1980.

President Bronislaw Komorowski will lead official celebrations in Warsaw this afternoon.

Asked by journalists about his relationship with the current leader of the Solidarity trade union, Piotr Duda, Lech Walesa was dismissive.

Walesa distanced himself from the action this week, where Duda and union activists took down a sign, without permission, placed above the shipyard gates which read “Lenin shipyard”, the name the plant had when the strikes took place 32 years ago.

The local authority renamed the shipyard this year as part of an “educational campaign” about Poland's communist history – a move strongly opposed by the current-day solidarity leadership.

“[The removal of the Lenin sign] is an obvious violation of the law, and I cannot identify with such behaviour,” Lech Walesa said.

Walesa said that he was prepared to work with Piotr Duda in the future, "if he behaves himself".

Present day Solidarity trade unionists released 300 pigeons this morning in memory of the historic August agreements signed by Walesa in 1980. (pg)

source: IAR