Poland's unionists call ministrike to goad Warsaw

September 30, 1980

Poland's free trade union has proclaimed a nationwide one-hour strike on Friday to protest what it describes as a government failure to honor its pledges. The strike announcement followed a meeting of delegates from 47 branch offices of the movement that controls about 25 percent of the Polish work force. Lech Walesa, leader of the solidarity movement and the hero of the Gdansk strikers, said the decision to stage a stoppage could be halted only if the government took action to honor the pay accords by Wednesday. The strike, which may be followed by more-protracted stoppages, would be the first test of strength between the Polish Communist authorities and the new union movement.