The right of coalition, understood as a second-generation human right, is related to equality, and is one of the manifestations of the freedom of association. The latter is recognised among the first-generation human rights, or those which do not originate from positive law but from the fact of belonging to the species of homo sapiens. The role of the state with respect to freedoms is to guarantee and secure them, while implementation of equality rights requires a legal framework and financial outlays. The current publication presents the evolution of the right to establish trade unions, as stipulated by Polish law, starting from the post-war period and ending with the latest changes which came in force on 1 January 2019; these are shown in the context of international regulations.