History of trade unions in Poland

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The history of trade unions in Poland began with the formation of the Trade Union of Mechanical Engineers and Metal Workers in 1869. By 1906, there were over 2,000 trade unions nationally, and many divisions among them.

All trade unions were suspended starting in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland and remained prohibited for the duration of Nazi control. Many labor activists were killed by the Nazi party, either in violent clashes with soldiers or after deportation to concentration camps.

After the end of the war, unions were reformed and incorporated into the newly-established communist leadership. Many union members opposed state control and wanted to remain autonomous, leading to violent clashes between union members and the government. The All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) was established by the state as an umbrella organization for all workers.

OPZZ continued to operate after the fall of the communist government and remains the largest trade union in Poland, though its membership numbers have dropped significantly from their peak in the late 1980s.