Freight transport to halt as SAK starts 2-week strike

Freight transport will remain suspended as the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) started a two-week strike from Monday 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.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the strike the SAK on Sunday made a public appeal to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo through publishing advertisement in newspaper to find out a solution to the ongoing crisis.

The government, however, did not respond to the appeal.

Leaders of the trade unions repeatedly said that the government itself brought on the strikes with its stubborn cost-cutting policy.

They said the negotiation 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.

The SAK affiliated individual unions will observe the strike in accordance with their own programme.

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 announced potential further sympathy measures separately.

The trade union leaders said the government has already made cuts to housing allowance and unemployment security. The social security reforms will increase inequality and strongly affect those who already now have a small income.

Some of the cuts will burden the same people, meaning that these people will lose money as a result of cuts made to several benefits.

The Government also seeks to undermine the general applicability of collective agreements, question the position of shop stewards and limit employees’ right to strike.

The reforms are justified by improving the economic outlook and the employment rate. In reality, there is no calculation on what the effects on employment are if, say, sympathy strikes are limited, the said.

Earlier on March 5, the SAK announced another spell of tougher strike protesting against the government moves.

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.