Solidarity (Polish trade union)

Solidarity (Polish:Solidarność, pronounced [sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ]; full name: Independent Self-governing Trade Union "Solidarity" – Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy „Solidarność” [ɲezaˈlɛʐnɨ samɔˈʐɔndnɨ ˈzvjɔ̃zɛk zavɔˈdɔvɨ sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ]) is a Polish trade union that was founded on 17 September 1980 at the Lenin Shipyard under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa. It was the first trade union in a Warsaw Pact country that was not controlled by a communist party. Its membership reached 9.5 million members before its September 1981 Congress (when it reached 10 million), which constituted one third of the total working-age population of Poland.<ref = name="Official">(Polish) „Solidarność" a systemowe przekształcenia Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej Retrieved on 7 June 2011</ref>