Polish Teachers' Union
Encyclopedia
Polish Teachers' Union is the largest Polish trade union
for teachers and educators and their largest professional association.
In the 1930s, ZNP, numbering over 50,000 members before World War II
, and being the largest Polish association and trade union for educators, became increasingly influenced by socialists, which caused it to be eventually suspended by the conservative and right-leaning Polish government. In response, the socialist wing of ZNP organized the large Polish teachers strike (1937), which succeeded in having the government back down and reinstate the organization. ZNP at that time maintained also auxiliary institutions, such as the Pedegogical Institute, and run summer vocational courses.
During the war, ZNP continued to exist as part of the underground education in Poland during World War II, in the form of the Secret Teaching Organization
. The Organization was created towards the end of October 1939 in Warsaw
response to German closure of most Polish educational institutions and repressions against teachers
.
After the war, ZNP was reinstated by the new Polish communist government, but had relatively little real influence. It was briefly suspended during the martial law in 1981
. In 1984 it joined the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions. Like most other Polish trade unions, ZNP became independent after the fall of communism in 1989. The Union leaders decided to keep it aligned to the Polish left (Social Democracy of Poland), which caused a split, as some of the members left for the Solidary-aligned trade unions. Nonetheless, it remained and is currently the largest Polish trade union
for teachers and educators.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
for teachers and educators and their largest professional association.
History
First Polish teachers trade unions date to 1905, the year that marks the period of unrest known as the Revolution in the Kingdom of Poland (1905–1907). The Polish Teachers' Union has been created in 1930 from the merger of the Union of Polish Teachers of Elementary Schools and the Trade Union of Teachers of Polish High Schools, both dating to 1919.In the 1930s, ZNP, numbering over 50,000 members before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and being the largest Polish association and trade union for educators, became increasingly influenced by socialists, which caused it to be eventually suspended by the conservative and right-leaning Polish government. In response, the socialist wing of ZNP organized the large Polish teachers strike (1937), which succeeded in having the government back down and reinstate the organization. ZNP at that time maintained also auxiliary institutions, such as the Pedegogical Institute, and run summer vocational courses.
During the war, ZNP continued to exist as part of the underground education in Poland during World War II, in the form of the Secret Teaching Organization
Secret Teaching Organization
Secret Teaching Organization was an underground Polish educational organization created in 1939 after the German invasion of Poland to provide underground education in occupied Poland....
. The Organization was created towards the end of October 1939 in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
response to German closure of most Polish educational institutions and repressions against teachers
Polish culture during World War II
Polish culture during World War II was suppressed by the occupying powers of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, both of whom were hostile to Poland's people and cultural heritage. Policies aimed at cultural genocide resulted in the deaths of thousands of scholars and artists, and the theft and...
.
After the war, ZNP was reinstated by the new Polish communist government, but had relatively little real influence. It was briefly suspended during the martial law in 1981
Martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland refers to the period of time from December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983, when the authoritarian government of the People's Republic of Poland drastically restricted normal life by introducing martial law in an attempt to crush political opposition to it. Thousands of opposition...
. In 1984 it joined the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions. Like most other Polish trade unions, ZNP became independent after the fall of communism in 1989. The Union leaders decided to keep it aligned to the Polish left (Social Democracy of Poland), which caused a split, as some of the members left for the Solidary-aligned trade unions. Nonetheless, it remained and is currently the largest Polish trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
for teachers and educators.