<P> Solidarity ( Polish : Solidarność , pronounced ( sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ ) ( listen ) ; full name : Independent Self - governing Labour Union `` Solidarity '' -- Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy `` Solidarność '' ( ɲezaˈlɛʐnɨ samɔˈʐɔndnɨ ˈzvjɔ̃zɛk zavɔˈdɔvɨ sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ ) ) is a Polish labour 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 . </P>
<P> Solidarity ( Polish : Solidarność , pronounced ( sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ ) ( listen ) ; full name : Independent Self - governing Labour Union `` Solidarity '' -- Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy `` Solidarność '' ( ɲezaˈlɛʐnɨ samɔˈʐɔndnɨ ˈzvjɔ̃zɛk zavɔˈdɔvɨ sɔliˈdarnɔɕt͡ɕ ) ) is a Polish labour 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 . </P>
in poland the movement against communism was led by
in poland the movement against communism was led by
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa