Association of Trade Unions explained

The Association of Trade Unions (pl|Zrzeszenie Związków Zawodowych, ZZZ) was a nominal national trade union federation in Poland.

The federation was founded in 1945. It claimed 4,000,000 members by 1956,^[1] and 12,000,000 in 1980. It was closely linked with the Polish United Workers' Party, although temporarily achieved some autonomy in 1956.^[2]

In 1980, Solidarity was established as an independent trade union. It proved highly popular; the ZZZ lost most of its membership, and was dissolved in December.^[3] Its assets were later passed to the new All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions.^[4]

Affiliates

In 1956, the following unions were affiliates:

• Agricultural and Forestry Workers' Trade Union
• Chemical Industry Workers' Trade Union
• Communal Economy Employees' Trade Union
• Communication Workers' Trade Union
• Construction, Ceramics and Allied Trade Workers' Union
• Cultural Workers' Trade Union
• Electrical Power Workers' Trade Union
• Food Industry Workers' Trade Union
• Foundry Industry Workers' Trade Union
• Health Service Workers' Trade Union
• Metal Workers' Trade Union
• Miners' Trade Union
• Railway Workers' Trade Union
• Road and Air Transport Workers' Trade Union
• Shipping Workers' Trade Union
• State and Public Workers' Trade Union
• Textile, Clothing and Leather Industry Workers' Trade Union
• Wood Products and Local Industry Workers' Trade Union
• Trade Workers' Trade Union

Presidents

1945: Kazimierz Witaszewski

1948: Edward Ochab

1949: Aleksander Zawadzki

1950: Wiktor Kłosiewicz

1956: Ignacy Loga-Sowiński

1971: Władysław Kruczek

1980: Jan Szydlak

1980: Romuald Jankowski

Notes and References

1. Book: Mitchell . James P. . Directory of Labour Organizations: Europe . 1955 . United States Department of Labour . Washington DC.
2. Book: Gardawski . Juliusz . Mrozowicki . Adam . Czarzasty . Jan . Trade Unions in Poland . 2012 . ETUI . Brussels . 9782874522482.
3. Mason . David S. . Poland's New Trade Unions . Soviet Studies . June 1987 . 39 . 3. 489–508 . 10.1080/09668138708411708 .
4. Web site: Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993) . International Labour Organization . 4 May 2021.