A Strategic Dilemma of Social Dialogue Participants

The paper deals with the perturbations in social dialogue in Poland, and addresses the question of whether the formula of tripartite social dialogue introduced over 20 years ago has any future. The author claims tripartism in Poland has chronically suffered from internal imbalance due to instrumental approach of the government(s) towards social partners. A possible way out of the severe crisis of social dialogue and to opening of a new chapter could lead through civic dialogue, in a formula embracing a broader spectrum of actors such as NGOs. Trade unions and employer organisations face a dilemma of a strategic weight: whether to allow new actors to the negotiation table with a view of reviving the process or defending their current position as sole partners for the government risking the continuing agony of social dialogue and petrification of unilateral government policy.