13000 gather in Helsinki amid strike protesting govt´s cuts, law reform moves

About 13 000 people on Thursday staged demonstration in Helsinki amidst the ongoing strike across the country protesting against the planned Government cuts in employee rights and social welfare.

The protesters with the slogan “Stop Now” held the demonstration and rally at Senate Square from 12.00 to 14.00 where they strongly criticized the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) led four-party alliance government for taking the “anti-poor” and “anti-labour” policies.

Jointly organised by two major trade union federations of the country- The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK)- participants at the rally bearing various placards, banners and festoons also demanded immediate stop of the government´s initiatives.

SAK President Jarkko Eloranta termed the latest Government policy proposals as an assault on employees in many ways.

“The world of work in Finland is now being bullied in an unprecedented way, with legislative changes directly dictated in a Government programme that seeks to undermine employment conditions and social welfare. Implementation of this programme will make people increasingly insecure and powerless at work,” Eloranta said in a press release.

The confederations stress that their strikes and demonstrations are not seeking to bring down the Government, but to call for genuine negotiation instead of a dictatorial approach.

While not disputing the need to adapt the national economy, STTK President Antti Palola strongly objected to the approach taken by the Government.

"These consolidation measures by the Government are unfair and discriminatory. Implementation of the goals set out in the Government programme will increase uncertainty in the world of work, pose a growing challenge to ensuring livelihoods, and prevent the achievement of equal pay objectives. The growth that Finland needs should not be created by undermining working conditions and pursuing a policy of penury," Palola said.

Meanwhile, rail, road and air traffics remained suspended and normal activities in various service sectors including daycares, factories and groceries are being hampered as different trade unions started a 48-hour strike across the country from early Thursday protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition undertaken by the four-party alliance government.

Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors- JHL, the service sector union -PAM, the Finnish Aviation Union- IAU, the Finnish Transport Workers' Union- AKT and the Finnish Airline Pilots' Association- SLL are observing the strike demanding stop of the government´s initiatives and various labour organisations expressed their solidarity with the strike.

The SAK and STTK said that a total of some 300,000 employees are participating in political strikes across the country.