The Union of Trade Unions (Polish: Związek Związków Zawodowych, ZZZ) was a trade union confederation formed as a result of an attempt to unite pro-social trade unions. It operated until 1939 and was one of the three largest union centers in Poland. It was pro-government at first, but under the influence of anarchists, it began to lean towards anarcho-syndicalism from 1936 onward. Soon it became the target of police and judicial repression, and their efforts were finally interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.[1]
Initially, the ZZZ supported the ruling camp and, in return, benefited from the support of the state administration. It was reformist in nature and did not protest against Sanation authoritarianism or capitalism. The program adopted at the 1st Congress of the Union of Trade Unions (ZZZ) called for an increase in the role of the state in the economy and the unification of the working class in trade unions independent of the party. Class struggle was negated, social conflicts were to be settled by state arbitration.[4]
During the Great Depression in ZZZ, a conflict grew between the solidarist group of Tomaszkiewicz and Malinowski and the syndicalists (Jędrzej Moraczewski, J. Szurig, B. Gawlik, G. Zieliński, S. Kapuściński, Stefan Szwedowski). During the Second Congress of the ZZZ in 1934, the program was radicalized under the influence of the syndicalists.[5] Although they continued to emphasize the supra-class character of the state and postulated evolutionary changes, they also recognized the class struggle and proclaimed the slogan "take over the social ownership of the workshops".[6] In 1935, the ZZZ concluded a "non-aggression pact" with the socialist union headquarters.[7] From 1936, under the influence of the anarchists, there was an ever greater shift in course towards syndicalism. The "ideological declaration" adopted at the 3rd Congress of the ZZZ in 1937 proclaimed the class struggle, demanded the nationalization and communization of large plants, banks and foreign trade, postulated "people's democracy" (combining strong executive power with civil rights and participation of the popular masses in government). Congress also passed a resolution in solidarity with the Spanish anarcho-syndicalist CNT and refused to join the Camp of National Unity.[8]
From then, the union was subjected to constant police and judicial repression (censorship interventions, arrests, trials for participation in demonstrations and anti-state public statements). In 1937, the police forcibly seized the premises of the ZZZ in Silesia to hand them over to a pro-government dissenting group. Solidarists from ZZZ led a split, as a result of which most of the members joined the pro-government Union of Polish Trade Unions (the number of ZZZ fell to 35,000 members).[9]
On March 13–14, 1938, the Fourth Congress of the ZZZ took place, which adopted a new Ideological Declaration, an interpretation of Polish syndicalism. The union program now advocated a classless producer society, community management of workplaces, nonpartisan trade unions, and a general strike as a method of making the union's goals a reality.[10] At the same time, it emphasized its patriotism, proclaiming its concern for the fate of the nation and the state, "building a new system on the Polish basis", and maintaining independence from international powers.[11]
^Marek, Lew Paweł (2006). Na krawędzi życia. Wspomnienia anarchisty 1943-44 (in Polish). Kraków: Anarchistyczna Federacja Polski – Suplement C. p. 323.
^Stanisława Kalabińskiego, ed. (1974). Ruch zawodowy w Polsce : zarys dziejów (in Polish). Vol. 2. 1918-1944. Cz.2 1929-1944. Warsaw. pp. 88–91. OCLC243909196.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Waingertner, Przemysław (1999). "Naprawa" (1926-1939): Z dziejów obozu pomajowego (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe "Semper". pp. 162–163. ISBN9788386951581. OCLC170013664.
^Tomasiewicz, Jarosław (2000). Między faszyzmem a anarchizmem: nowe idee dla Nowej Ery (in Polish). Pyskowice: Wydaw. "Zima". pp. 36–37. OCLC749525567.
^Tomasiewicz, Jarosław (2020). "Faszyzm lewicy" czy "ludowy patriotyzm"? Tendencje antyliberalne i nacjonalistyczne w polskiej lewicowej myśli politycznej lat trzydziestych (in Polish). Warsaw: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy. pp. 45–50. ISBN9788381961035. OCLC1226702703.
^Ajzner, Seweryn (1979). Związek Związków Zawodowych 1931-1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Ksia̜żka i Wiedza. pp. 182–200. OCLC251893738.
^Ajzner, Seweryn (1979). Związek Związków Zawodowych 1931-1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Ksia̜żka i Wiedza. pp. 249–252. OCLC251893738.
^Ajzner, Seweryn (1979). Związek Związków Zawodowych 1931-1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Ksia̜żka i Wiedza. pp. 307–326. OCLC251893738.
^Ajzner, Seweryn (1979). Związek Związków Zawodowych 1931-1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Ksia̜żka i Wiedza. pp. 357–372. OCLC251893738.
^Ajzner, Seweryn (1979). Związek Związków Zawodowych 1931-1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Ksia̜żka i Wiedza. pp. 392–400. OCLC251893738.
^Tomasiewicz, Jarosław (2020). "Faszyzm lewicy" czy "ludowy patriotyzm"? Tendencje antyliberalne i nacjonalistyczne w polskiej lewicowej myśli politycznej lat trzydziestych (in Polish). Warsaw: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy. pp. 197–207. ISBN9788381961035. OCLC1226702703.