“Today’s Poland has its roots in Solidarity,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in front of the Zofiówka mine in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, paying tribute to the miners who went on strike in 1980.

“I thank all the Solidarity activists of those years, because it was your determination that made the communist regime yield to the demands of Polish workers, which paved the way for the subsequent regaining of freedom,” added the Prime Minister.

The agreement signed in Jastrzębie-Zdrój with the communist authorities was the third such agreement after the ones signed in Szczecin and Gdańsk. It included support for the 21 Gdańsk postulates, abolition of the 4-brigade system of work in the mining industry and introduction of non-working Saturdays.

“We still have plenty to do, but we would not be able to improve and change our free country today if it had not been for Solidarity 40 years ago. I think all Poles should bow their heads gratefully to our heroes of those years.  I pay tribute and thank all those involved in the struggle for free Poland during those years,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

At the end of his visit to the Zofiówka mine, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland met with miners who had recovered from COVID-19 and donated their much needed blood and plasma for the production of a medicine against the novel disease.

“I wish good health to you and all your colleagues and family members so that they steer clear of the disease and so that life in Poland returns to normal,” said Mateusz Morawiecki in conclusion.