Abstract

The article takes a closer look at the economic and social situation that contributed to the emergence of the Solidarity movement. It focuses primarily on the activities of the board of the NSZZ “Solidarność” in Biłgoraj. The author used unpublished source materials donated to the State Archive in Zamość by Marian Jagusiewicz, a Biłgoraj solidarity activist, including the minutes and information of the KW PZPR (Voivodship Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party) in Zamość and the KM PZPR (Town Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party)  in Biłgoraj. The first strike in the town was organised by the employees of the Biłgoraj branch of the Internal Trade Transport Company (16-18 July 1980). The Inter-company Regional Committee of the Solidarity Trade Union of the Biłgoraj Region was founded on 6 December, with Janusz Różycki as its first chairman to be succeded by   Jagusiewicz in June. The first General Delegates’ Assemblies were held at the Mewa textile factory. The activists offered subscriptions to Tygodnik Solidarność (“Solidarity Weekly”), opened a library, organised workplace meetings, strikes, meetings with the Municipal National Council, and took part in civic activities aimed at preventing dishonest practices in shops. For those reasons, they were subject to harassment by the authorities. The author cites the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the Second General Assembly of Delegates. The activists did not expect martial law. After it was imposed, unsuccessful attempts to stage strikes were made by the workers of the local car service company and Mewa but they were unsuccessful. In the Biłgoraj district, 23 people were arrested and the seat of the Biłgoraj branch of the Solidarity movement was vandalised by militia groups supporting the regime.