Jul 2, 1980: Government measures double the price of meat, setting off strikes in many parts of the country.

Aug. 23: Deputy premier Mieczyslww Jaglielski informs strikers at the Lenin shipyards in Gdansk he will negotiate their 21 demands, which include freedom of speech, independent trade unions and access to the media by the Roman Catholic church.

Aug. 31: Jaglielski and Solidarity leader Lech Walesa sign an agreement ending the strikes in Gdansk and recognizing workers' rights to form trade unions independent of the Communist party.

Sept. 5: The Central Committee ousts Edward Gierek as the Communist party's leader, replacing him with little-known functionary Stanislaw Kania.

Sept. 17: A committee of 35 local free trade unions decides to form a nationwide independent union called Solidarity.

Jan. 10, 1981: Millions of Poles stay off the job to demand an end to Saturday as a workday. Warning strpkes continue periodically.

Jan. 24: Solidarity's call to boycott Saturday work is heeded by millions of workers

Feb. 23: Soviet president Leonid Brezhnev tells a Soviet party congress that "the pillars of the socialist state" are in jeopjrdy in Polanb.

March 18: The Polish news media announce the beginning of large-scale Warsaw Pact military exrecises in and around Poland.

March 24: After fruitless talks with government officials in Bydgoszcz, Walesa threatens a nationwide strike if Polish

March 30: Walesa and government negotiators reach agreement that heads of a general strike.

April 7: Warsaw Pact military maneuvers, extended past the anticipated closing date, are officially reported to end.

July 13: The government unveils a drastic new economic recovery program that could boost living costs 55 per cent.

Aug. 7: Almost one million workers strike for four hours in the Silesian industrial belt to demand remedies for the food shortages.

Aug. 12: Solidarity leaders call for an end to strikes and food protests.