ANALYSIS OF POLISH TRADE-UNION ELECTION RETURNS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700040021-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: January 21, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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r
STAT
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED RES I RIG 11:111
SECURITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
REPORT
COUNTRY
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
Poland
CD NO.
DATE OF
INFORMA
TION
1951
SUBJECT
HOW
Sociological - Labor organization
Political - Communist Party
DATE DIST. '
Jan 1952
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
Monthly periodical
Warsaw
NO. OF PAGES
6
DATE
PUBLISHED
Jun 1951
LANGUAGE
Polish
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
"M mums" WnAm IOrooo~noo unmu no unoou smm
or n"r MIND OTAU WITOIO no OUOlIt or 13"000O AOT so
O. f. e. ! I AOe U. U AluUl. In iUOOOIUIOO OO nr OnOYneO
or ITS COUTOen lO AIT O.O.O TO AN OgnOOOIUO nriee It nG
OIOnIO ST LAW. OIPOOOOenOO or Ills roe. It FIONIOIno.
To achieve the tasks of the Six-Year Plan, trade unions must achieve
complete organizational efficiency. They must overcome the remnants of social
democratism and "trade unionism" which have had a negative influence on the
method of operations of the union organizations.
A study of trade-union activities shows that the higher echelons have
broken away from the factories. This break is due to a lack of control on the
part of union members over the union authorities, nonattendance of these
authorities at meetirgs, lack of reporting, and disregard for the criticism
of the masses.
The Sixth Plenum of the CRZZ (Central Council of Trade Unions) resolved
to conduct a reporting and election campaign in all the trade unions. The
resolution of the CRZZ Plenum governing the elections emphasized the principle
of democracy within trade unions and recommended that the composition of union
authorities be changed to include more nonparty laborers and white-collar
workers, more women, young people, and technicians. The Sixth Plenum also
emphasized the necessity of heeding the criticism of thG masses to get ideas
for further activities. The plenum exhorted the entire activist group to
combat regimentation and administrative pressure and indicated that per-
suasion and indoctrination were to be the only methods used in union activities.
It also called attention to the fact tha' hostile elements will take advantage
of mistakes and endeavor to create worker opposition to the government's policy.
For the first time in the history of the trade-union movement in Poland, the
plenum resolved to carry out elections in all trade unions simultaneously, in
three stages: elections within union groups; elections for factory division,
factory, and nonindustrial councils; and elections for regional and industrial
branch administrations.
STATE
ARMY
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The elections are almost completed. With the exception of the Miners'
Trade Union, the ZZK (Railroad Workers' Trade Union), and the Trade Unions
of the Printing, Press, and Publications Workers, where elections are now in
progress, elections in union groups and elections for factory councils have
been completed, and the regional elections are almost completed.
Accor`ing to incomplete returns, 488,883 union activists were elected
in the following categories: 141,874 social insurance delegates, 123,094
social welfare inspectors, and 53,384 organizers of cultural and indoctrina-
tion projects.
A study of the composition of the activist group shows that only 21
percent of the former trusted representatives have been reelected, while
79 percent are new union activists, including many shockworkers, rationalizers,
and outstanding white-collar workers.
The proportion of nonparty members increased to 58 percent, the pro-
portion of women increased from 19 to 24 ,arcent, and the proportion of young
people from 6 to 15 percent. About 2, 985, 363 members or70 percent of the total
union membership, participated in the elections and about 497,427 participated
in the discussions. A total of 20,835 factory and nonindustrial councils were
elected, and 5,743 factory division councils. The number of council members
amounts to 192,275.
Only 15 percent of the former council members were reelected. The pro-
portion of nonparty members in the councils increased from 37.8 percent to
49 percent, the proportion of women from 12.7 percent to 22 percent, and the
proportion of young people from 4.4 to 12.7 percent.
Attendance at election meetings and conferences fluctuated between 52
and 85 percent (56 percent among chemical workers, 56 percent among postal
workers, 85 percent among power workers, 75 percent among metal productR
workers, and 80 percent dmcng miners). Between 3.5 to 27 percent of those
present participated in discussions (metelworkers 4 percent, chemists 11
percent, transportation workers 23 percent, clothing workers 27 percent,
and smelting and foundry workers 3.5 percent).
Excluding the ZNP (Zwiazek Nauczycielstva Polskiego, Polish Teachers'
Union) and parts of the ZZK and the Union of Printing, Press and Publication
Workers, 681,000 activists were elected in the factories in Poland, besides
members of various commissions, womens' councils, administrations of athletic
groups, `administrations of welfare and loan agencies, and factory clubs,
which means that every sixth worker is an activist.
Taking into account the fact that the proportion of nonparty members is
highest among social insurance delegates, public welfare inspectors, and
organizers of cultural and indoctrination projects, nonparty members consti-
tute the majority of the newly elected activists in the factories. Nonparty
members may be estimated at 60-65 percent. The job of welfare inspector,
social insurance delegate, trusted representative, or council member very
often is a man's first assignment in social work. This indicates the important
role of trade unions as a school for the indoctrination of social activists
and a training center for cadres.
About 2,985,363 members took part in the election of trusted represen-
tatives and more than 2,500,000 in the election of factory council members.
The participation of hundreds of thousands of persons in the discussions
creates an impression that these meetings are a sort of mass training center
for management.
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According to incomplete reports, 119,203 new members joined the unions
during the election campaign. This includes 25,000 in the Construction Workers'
Union, 15,000 in the Tradesmen's Union, 5,518 in the Metalworkers' Union, and
11,948 in the Clothing and Leather Goods Workers' Union. Increased receipts
of'membership dues also indicate the growing strength of trade unions.
During the campaign, the tie between the higher echelons of union organ-
ization and the factory was strengthened. This permitted the higher authori-
ties to get a clearer insight into factory problems. Many grievances came to
light at th:. meetings. These car be ironed out with the assistance of the
factory management.
The campaign brought to light the changes which have taken place in the
working classes in Poland. The feeling of responsibility toward the factory
and the country has deepened. During the campaign, pledges were made and
suggestions offered for the improvement of work organization in industry and
the elimination ^f waste.
There were many shortcomings in the election which should be sharply
criticized to avoid repetition in the next election. Insufficient importance
was attached to the election of trusted representatives and to the reports
of trusted representatives. There were many instances of trusted representa-
tives elected en masse at a general meeting (Construction Workers, Finance
Workers, Chemical Workers), or summarily appointed (Pabianice-Wlokno). Some
trusted representatives made no report or announced that there was nothing
to report. The resolution of 21 March 1951, of the CRZZ Secretariat, reported
this state of affairs to the main administrations. In many instances, the
election was repeated. As the campaign progressed these defects decreased.
In some factories, pressure was used, contrary to regulations, to assure
attendance (e.g., Laska Woolen Mills, Szczakowa Cement Plant, Lignica Clothing
Factory -- Division "A").
There were instances of disregard for democratic practices within the
union and disregard for the will'of the masses. Prepared lists were sub-
mitted. (e.g., Struga Textile Plant in Lodz, factory in Boryszewo, Szczakowa
Cement Plant; "Suit" (Association of Forest Wardens) in Opole). Candidates
were awarded elections without the required minimum of votes by forcing the
winning opponents to decline the mandate (e.g., clothing and leather goods
workers in Bydgoszcz and textile workers in Ozorkow). There were instances
of falsifying the count through pressure on the election examining board at
the "Ninth of May" PZPB in Lodz and the Cultural Workers' and Artists' Union.
Persons other than delegates were permitted to attend election meetingp, at
the Textile Workers' Union in Lodz.
Pre-election reports at meetings were very inadequate. The policies
were not well thought out and discussions were limited to factory tasks and
did not emphasize the role of the trade-union organization in the realization
of these tasks.
Due to the intervention of the union authorities and the assistance of
party organizations, later reports at meetings showed a more definite policy,
but even at this stage, the general political problems and the problems within
the factory were not coordinated closely enough. Each appeared as a separate
problem having no connection with the other.
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There is lack of interest in cementing the bond between the workers and
peasants. The task of tightening this bond has not been assigned to a given
group. The problem of class struggle, the struggle against hostile elements,
and the problem of revolutionary vigilance have not been adequately covered.
Discussions emphasized interest in production, work organization, expansion
of work competition by pledges, elimination of goldbricking, revision of norms,
and reduction of waste.
The problems of safety measures in industry (lighting, ventilation, and
especially protective clothing) were strongly emphasized in the discussions.
One of the most. essential topics discussed was the disregard of labor laws
and collective agreements by managements (e.g., Krasnik Brick Plant, Poznan
Municipal Electric Railway, Elblag Power Plant). So far, unions have shown
insufficient interest in the enforcement of labor legislation.
In social welfare matters, the present system of coal distribution, and
luck of trade-union interest in nurseries and nursery schools were vigorously
criticized. There were many complaints against the improper allocation of
cinema tickets and reservations at workers' vacation resorts.
There were also c"plaints against the syscem of distribution, favori-
tism, and lack of public control in stores. The necessity of increasing the
effort against speculators was indicated. All these problems and others not
mentioned here should be studied in detail and, wherever possible, eliminated.
The elections brought to light serious defects in the operations of
the union apparatus and activists groups, particularly the lack of adequate and
systematic political indoctrination. The laws, decrees, and resolutions of
the government of Poland are in most cases not well known to the general public,
or else they reach it via hostile interpretation. The union activists are not
familiar with Poland's labor laws, which are patterned on the Soviet laws. The
Factory Fund has not been adequately publicised. The cultural and educational
programs do not reach all the workers, the ideological propaganda is still in
its infancy, and the clubrooms are not being utilized to the fullest extent.
There was a general clamor for training or education, but to date the schools
and courses have not been fully utilized.
A serious defect is the lack of adequate personnel for the upper union
echelons, the factory councils,. and also the lack of a well-planned system
of work organization. Very often, instructors in the area deal only with
the head of the factory council and seldom have any contact with the union
members.
The elections proved conclusively that the weakest link in the entire
union system is the intermediate link -- the regional, or industrial branch
organization -- whose raison d'etre is its association With the factory.
Therefore, it is imperative to analyze accurately the organization of each
union, the aim of every intermediate link, and to establish efficient methods
of operation.
The elections brought to light he fact that the heads of activists'
groups do not realize the importance of ideological activities, that there
is a lack of interest in self-improvement, and that responsibility for work
assigned is not appreciated. Lack of vigilance against hostile activities
was reflected in the reports of the main administrat+.ons to the Central Council
of Trade Unions.
The following conclusions have been reached as a result of the election
campaign activities:
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1. The union organizations ought to study the grievances and requests
brought pp:by workers at meetings, analyze them, assign the job of adjusting
the matter, establish a target date, and report on the results before a meet-
ing of union groups. Even when the grievances or requests seem unjustified,
they ought to be discussed with the gr,-;p and an explanation. given as to why
they are not justified. The adjustment of grievances should be communicated
to the workers by radio or bulletin board and also explained at the factory
or factory division meetings.
The upper union echelon (regional and main administration) ought
follow through to see that grievances are adjusted and should assist
the factc7y councils in the task.
The adjustment of grievances and requests discussed at the election
meetings is one of the most important tasks of all union organizations.
2. A system ought to be worked out which would give the upper union
echelons a systematic chain of command over the lower echelons, '11owing them
to direct the union activities, without infringing rn the initiative of the
lover echelons. The main administrations ought to hold regional meetings
each month at regular intervals assigning concrete tasks to be performed in
the succeeding period. In turn, the regions ought to hold monthly meetings
of the factory councils, and the latter should hold meetings of factory
division councils and trusted representatives.
In the factory, separate meetings should be called for trusted
representatives, social insurance delegates, social welfare inspectors, and
organizers of cultural and indoctrination projects. The activities of factory,
nonindustrial, and factory division councils ought to be defined. A plan of
action for the factory council ought to be worked out and the topics for dis-
cussion assigned.
CRZZ inspection of factories 2-3 months after election day showed
that not one meeting had been held for trusted representatives, social in-
surance delegates, social welfare inspectors, or cultural and indoctrination
project organizers, and no tusks had been assigned them.
The revised edition of union by-laws which will be out shortly will
be of great help in the proper organization of the activities of factory
activists. Glos Pracy (Voice 'f Labor) which usually devotes much space ..o
the problems of union groups and at present is carrying on conferences by
correspondence with trusted representatives, may also be of help. Since the
main purpose of Glos Pracy is to assist the factory organizations, it is
imperative that the factory activists read this publication and refer their
problems and difficulties to it.
3. The same serious attention should be given to the care of the
worker, the youth, the worker's family, and working women as is given to the
recruitment of crews for production achievement.
4. The next important task of the union activists is to intensify
vigilance, combat manifestations of hostile activities, and unmask hostile
propaganda as a tool of American imperialists. The entire activist group,
party and nonparty, must be impressed with the idea that the enemy will
endeavor to hamper Poland's industrialization because it considers every
achievement a blow to imperialism.
5. The activists must become a well-informed group of defenders of
people's Poland with love for their country and pride in its achievements.
They must be brought up in the spirit of international solidarity and, in
the spirit of love and attachment to the great USSR.
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sode]ed"oa the aczLv1Zlea. They will be
party methods and should be critically analyzed under party
direction
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