Poles disrupt tractor plant in protest over an arrest

November 25, 1980

Polish authorities rejected demands for the release of a detained printer, and union leaders immediately called a warning strike at a tractor factory. Solidarity union leaders announced the action after sending a delegation to the prosecutor general's office to demand the release of Jan Narozniak, who works at Solidarity's Warsaw office. Mr. Narozniak was accused of copying a secret document from the prosecutor general setting out guidelines for dealing with dissidents and other antisocialist elements.

The strike took place on the assembly line at the Ursus Tractor Factory, which has some of the most militant workers and has frequently been the center of dispute and protests. solidarity said further strike action would be decided at a later meeting.

Railroad workers also staged selective stoppages in Gdansk and Warsaw to protest the way pay raises are distributed to rail workers.