Unions suspend strikes to negotiate with govt

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and its affiliated unions on Thursday decided to suspend their ongoing strikes from Monday, said SAK in a press release.

The trade unions have been observing the strikes 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.

The Executive Board of the SAK will reassess the ongoing situation on April 18.

“The Government has advised us that it will not seek any settlement with employee organisations while strikes continue. No new decisions were made to continue strike action, and we shall now give the Orpo-Purra Government an opportunity to react. The strikes will be suspended as of Monday 8 April. We stand ready negotiate even before this,” SAK President Jarkko Eloranta said.

The strikes involved some 7,000 striking employees organised in the Industrial Union, the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT, Service Union United PAM, the Finnish Construction Trade Union, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL and the Electrical Workers’ Union.

Eloranta suggested that the first step towards restoring confidence would be a clear denial from Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of a rumoured accelerated introduction of measures curtailing the right to strike.

“Employees should continue to have a meaningful ability to defend themselves and advance their interests. We have accordingly called for a reasonable approach to anti-strike laws and common sense in expanding local collective bargaining. The Government Programme seeks to impose the wishes of employers unilaterally. We now have an opportunity to find some balance. The ball is in the Prime Minister’s court,” said the SAK President.

Eloranta expressed concern about the consequences of the government’s policy program and shortcomings in assessing the impact of measures. The latest round of social welfare cuts took effect on 1 April.

“The Government seems to lack empathy, leaving many families fearful of the upcoming debate on spending limits. Talk of new cuts is growing louder by the day. The measures already taken or planned will have a significant impact on a large segment of the general public. SAK calls on the Government to prepare an assessment of the impacts of measures taken for its own mid-term review in spring 2025. It must issue a commitment to take remedial measures correcting any cuts in working conditions and social welfare that have proven to be unreasonable,” he added.

The SAK and its affiliated unions on March 27 decided to extend their ongoing strikes for at least one more week.

The SAK and its affiliated unions on March 20 decided to extend their ongoing strikes to until end of March after a negotiation meeting with the government was ended without any fruitful result.

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.

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.

Earlier on March 15, 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.