In these demands, the workers were calling on the government to protect the constitutional rights of the Polish people, and take steps to improve the low standard of living of blue-collar citizens. After weeks of negotiations with Wałęsa and his MKS, the Communist party first secretary Edward Gierek was forced to accede to all twenty-one of the strikers' demands, signing the Gdańsk Agreement on August 31, which allowed workers the right to strike and organise independent unions.
The workers asked for constitutional rights protection and living standard enhancements from the government. After weeks of talks with Wałęsa and his MKS, Communist party leader Edward Gierek accepted all twenty-one demands made by the strikers, signing the Gdańsk Agreement on August 31, which permitted strikes and union autonomy.