Polish teachers’ strike will not damage ruling party

Subject

The strike's impact on the pre-election situation.

Significance

The teachers’ strike has continued for a third week. With Stanislaw Broniarz, the head of the Polish Teachers’ Union and the strike organiser, saying the pay claim is unchanged, and the Law and Justice (PiS) government not prepared to meet the demands, negotiations are stalemated.

Impacts

• The opposition will exploit government education policy to its advantage in the upcoming parliamentary election campaign.
• Teachers are unlikely to obtain their 30% wage increase, leading to departures from the profession.
• Regardless of PiS strategy, education reform is much needed but will be difficult, mostly due to political polarisation.