The first chairman of OPZZ (All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions) and a member of parliament in late communist era Alfred Miodowicz has died - the OPZZ informed on Friday. Miodowicz faced Lech Wałęsa in a TV debate in 1988, and took part in the Polish Round Table Talks. He was 92.
The All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions said at its website that, between 1983-1987, Miodowicz was the chief of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Steelworkers' Trade Unions, and that in 1984 he became the chairman of the OPZZ. He remained in office until 1991. Between 1985-1989, the unionist was a member of the Polish People's Republic Sejm of the IX term. He was also a member of Poland's Council of State, PZPR Central Committee and PZPR Political Bureau.
The November 30, 1988, TV debate between Miodowicz and Lech Wałęsa, won by the latter, was an important step leading to the Round Table Talks.
Miodowicz took part in the Round Table talks, at which he put forward proposals to hold fully-free, non-contract parliamentary election and immediate abolition of all kinds of censorship.
Between 1992 and 1995, he served the chairman of Working People's Movement (Ruch Ludzi Pracy). He was a member of the World Federation of Trade Unions.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP