Józef Krzysztof Giza was born on March 13, 1957, in Tarnogród, in the Lublin Voivodeship. He came from a large family. After completing vocational school as a baker, he worked in local workshops. Seeking better opportunities and to be closer to his siblings, he moved to Silesia. In Katowice, he completed his military service and in 1978 began working at the Wujek Coal Mine. He was a calm, conscientious, and friendly person.

At the Wujek mine, Józef Giza worked as a junior carpenter. He quickly became involved in union activities, joining the NSZZ “Solidarity," which reflected his sensitivity to injustice and his desire to act for others. During the imposition of martial law, he participated in the strike that was a response to the brutal repression of “Solidarity" activists. On the day of the crackdown, December 16, 1981, he was fatally shot in the neck during an attack by security forces.

The death of Józef Giza, along with eight other miners, became a dramatic symbol of resistance against the communist authorities and the brutality of martial law. His funeral in Tarnogród was an expression of social protest, and his sacrifice has been honored with numerous awards, including the Gold Cross of Merit with Swords and the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity. Today, his name serves as a reminder of the price many Poles paid for freedom.