SAK calls 2-week strike protesting labour law reforms from March 11

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) on Tuesday announced another spell of tougher strike protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition undertaken by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) led four-party alliance government.

The SAK leaders from a press conference announced a two-week long strike from March 11 where they explained their efforts to establish negotiating channels with the government in recent weeks.

They said the efforts have been futile, and the government has instead announced the intention to continue implementing its plans in all respects prompting the unions to go for further strike to press home their demands.

They also said that the unions are ready to suspend their strikes, if the government indicates that it is willing to mitigate and balance its proposed cuts.

“We have been willing to negotiate on major issues of principle that are important to us, in line with the Government’s objectives. Even such significant compromises have not evoked a response from them,” said SAK President Jarkko Eloranta at the press conference.

The individual unions will announce the targets of this strike action in accordance with their own notification obligations.

“We are keen to ensure that these measures pose no danger to public health or safety. I have been in touch with the National Emergency Supply Agency proposing a low threshold for contact in the event of any problems. This also applies to other public authorities,” Eloranta said.

The participating SAK affiliates are the Industrial Union, the Public and Welfare Sectors Trade Union JHL, the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT, the Electrical Workers’ Union, the Finnish Construction Trade Union, and Service Union United PAM. Other SAK trade unions will also demonstrate their solidarity by contributing financially. The unions will announce potential further sympathy measures separately.

The measures will target export and import operations at ports and the railway system. Major industrial plants and distribution terminals will also be affected. About 7,000 employees will be taking strike action in key industries.

Quoting a survey SAK said that 81 per cent of the 7,598 respondents expressed support for such strikes while 15 per cent opposed and 4 per cent were undecided.

“We are doing this to defend the rights and interests of all employees, and we are also seeking to ensure fair and equitable treatment for future generations of employees in Finland. This treatment should enable employees to influence their own terms and conditions of employment through collective bargaining and agreement,” Eloranta added.

Different trade unions were observing strikes protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition undertaken by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) led four-party alliance government.

Three opposition parties in the parliament on February 16 tabled a no-confidence motion against the four-party alliance government over the ongoing labour market unrest in the country.