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| 1988, Jan. 30 |
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| The government announced large price increases meant to accelerate a transition to a market economy. Wage increases of nearly 40 percent were intended to partially offset the price increases. | 1 |
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| April 25 |
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| Local transportation union leaders in Bydgoszcz led a strike and subsequently bargained for a 63 percent wage increase. Labor unrest began to spread throughout Poland. | 2 |
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| May–Aug |
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| Workers in Gdansk went on strike in support of steel strikes in May. In August strikes of mine workers in southern Poland spread to shipyards, including Gdansk. This strike wave prompted talks between Walesa and Interior Minister Kiszczak and led to the promise of roundtable talks. | 3 |
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| Sept. 19 |
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| Prime Minister Messner offered his own and his government's resignations after Parliament endorsed a report highly critical of the government's progress in implementing the economic reform program. | 4 |
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| Sept. 28 |
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| Mieczyslaw Rakowski was elected by the Parliament to be the new prime minister. | 5 |
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| Oct |
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| The government announced that the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk was to close on Dec. 1 because it was unprofitable. Solidarity supporters interpreted the government move as politically motivated and designed to wreck the prospects of roundtable discussions between the government and Solidarity. | 6 |
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