Poland - Gdansk - Ship builders construct a German ferry.

Shipbuilders manhandle heavy piping up a ramp of stairs as another worker's sparks from welding falls below on the hull of a large German ferry at the Polish Gdansk shipyard - once known as the Lenin Shipyard but still the largest of its kind in modern Poland. The grimy and hazardous working conditions make for a dangerous environment in which to work. Here in 1980 the union Solidarity (Solidarnosc) was conceived and was partly responsible for a growing dissent against Communist rule, ultimately contributing towards the fall of the Berlin Wall. Lech Walesa started his political career as an electrical technician here, going on to lead Solidarity and then to become President of a democratic Poland. Today Gdansk is a major industrial city and shipping port.

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Filename: RB-0019.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 4096x2713 / 1.1MB; http://www.bakerpictures.com; Lech Walesa Photographer Richard Baker Solidarity Solidarnosc born building carry carrying communism communist construction dissent environment ferry gdansk hazard hazardous hull industrial industry largest letters manhandle pipe piping poland polish scale ship shipbuilding shipping skill sparks transportation union vessel welding work workers workplace writing
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Shipbuilders manhandle heavy piping up a ramp of stairs as another worker's sparks from welding falls below on the hull of a large German ferry at the Polish Gdansk shipyard - once known as the Lenin Shipyard but still the largest of its kind in modern Poland. The grimy and hazardous working conditions make for a dangerous environment in which to work. Here in 1980 the union Solidarity (Solidarnosc) was conceived and was partly responsible for a growing dissent against Communist rule, ultimately contributing towards the fall of the Berlin Wall. Lech Walesa started his political career as an electrical technician here, going on to lead Solidarity and then to become President of a democratic Poland. Today Gdansk is a major industrial city and shipping port.