Mineral construction materials industry in the years 1971-1981. Investment boom, crises, and the birth of “Solidarity” Cover Image

Przemysł mineralnych materiałów budowlanych w latach 1971–1981. Boom inwestycyjny, zjawiska kryzysowe i narodziny „Solidarności”
Mineral construction materials industry in the years 1971-1981. Investment boom, crises, and the birth of “Solidarity”

Author(s): Zbigniew Bereszyński
Subject(s): Economic history, Social history, Post-War period (1950 - 1989)
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: mineral construction materials industry; dynamic growth strategy; crisis; conflicts; “Solidarity”;

Summary/Abstract: In 1971, the new leadership of the Polish United Workers’ Party, headed by Edward Gierek, introduced a new economic strategy, called the “strategy of dynamic growth”. This strategy brought about positive results, for instance in the sector of mineral construction materials. In the 1970s, this sector underwent intense development and modernization. In the end, the strategy was not consistently implemented, mainly due to the lack of sufficient financing. Over time, its initial success was overshadowed by the intensifying social and economic crisis, which resulted with conflicts in workplaces, among other consequences. In the summer of 1980, workers went on strike also in mineral construction material factories. This was followed by the formation of “Solidarity” branches in individual workplaces and at the national level.

  • Issue Year: 2022
  • Issue No: 9
  • Page Range: 205-240
  • Page Count: 36
  • Language: Polish