Nordic trade unions extend support to unions´ strike in Finland

The largest trade union in Norway Fagforbundet and the Swedish Union of Municipal Workers Kommunal expressed solidarity with the ongoing strikes in Finland enforced by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and its affiliated trade unions in Finland.

The Finnish trade unions have been observing a two-week strike since March 11 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.

Fagforbundet and Kommunal on Friday sent separate letters to the Public and Welfare Sectors Trade Union JHL extending their supports to the ongoing strike, said JHL in a press release.

Terming the government´s move as cold, hard and cruel, President of Fagforbundet Mette Nord in her letter said that the initiatives taken by the right-wing government must be prevented.

She also said that limiting right to strike, cutting adult education and unemployment supports do not belong to the Nordic model.

She said Fagforbundet strongly condemned the Finnish government´s move and fully support the workers, who are observing strike to press home their demands.

Meanwhile, policyholder representative of Kommunal Johan Engelsog in his letter expressed concern over the Finnish government´s move, which he termed as an attack on workers' rights and social security.

He said that the Kommunal does accept the government´s initiative, which breaks the Nordic model and strongly condemned the it.

Freight transport and production in the major industries remained standstill from March 11 as the SAK started tougher strike across the country protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition.

The two-week long strike is being observed by all the major SAK affiliated trade unions including 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.

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.

The reforms include cutbacks in unemployment benefits, increasing opportunities for companies to break away from union tariff agreements, and restricting political or sympathy strikes in the labor market.

The government has also proposed a wage model in which wage increases in the export industry would set the ceiling for all other sectors of the Finnish economy.

The unions maintain that the reforms solely reflect the interests of employers.