Finnish Industry unions and trade unions PRO issued a warning on Friday about a series of work stoppages in several industrial sectors between February 14 and 16.
Riku AaltoIn a press release, the president of the industrial union said that the union has no choice but to step up its efforts as the government shows no readiness to listen to employees as they seek changes to employee rights and unemployment. he claimed. safety.
The union has around 60,000 members working at production sites for companies such as ABB, Kone, Konecranes, Metso, Meyer Turk, Nokian Tire, Ponce, SSAB, Stra Enso, Terrafame, Valmet and Versowood. announced that it would participate in a two-day business suspension. .
“Industrial unions will continue to tighten the screws on strikes,” he declared.
“We will not tolerate the demolition of buildings built to protect workers. The negative changes outlined by the government have nothing to do with jobs. They are simply a manifestation of ideology dictated by industry to the ruling party. I don’t know.”
Currently, the main concerns for unions relate to the changes that local negotiations impose on terms of employment, its monitoring and employee representation.
“The proposal on regional bargaining is taxi reform in the labor market,” he argued, pointing to widely criticized reforms carried out by the Prime Minister’s government. Juha Shipila (center). “The losers will be local business owners who don’t want to compete with weak employment conditions. The winners will be companies with shady subcontractors and large numbers of foreign employees.”
The professional trade union announced on Friday that around 7,000 of its members will take part in a three-day suspension of activities in the chemical, technology, textile and fashion industries, including workplaces in Fiskars, Isk, Marimekko, Martela, Outokumpu, Tikrila and Wärtsilä.
He also pointed to the lack of genuine negotiation between central government and trade unions, as evidenced by recent statements by the Employment Minister. Arto Satonen (NCP).
Satonen told Helsingin Sanomat on Thursday that expanding local negotiations would impact employment, although ministry officials were unable to provide calculations to back it up.
“The problem is not that these measures actually have no effect, but that Treasury officials have not been able to calculate their effectiveness in the way they do.” Suomen Yrittäjät’s research, for example, shows that organized “Expanding local bargaining to workplaces that do not already have it would likely have an impact, but there are no studies that can prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt,” Satonen said.
“The tripartite task force referred to in the minister’s comments has so far been about theater and has not had the opportunity to have a real impact.” [the outcome]Therefore, we have no choice but to continue with the work stoppage.” Jorma MarinChairman of the Labor Union Pro.
The Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK) warned on Friday that industrial action is beginning to pose a real risk to jobs in Finland.
“Wage earners are putting the economic sustainability of their employers at risk and, as a result, their own jobs.” Iruka Oksara, EK’s head of labor market told Helsingin Sanomat. “Companies that do not have a solid foundation may have to make temporary and permanent layoffs.”
Oksala declined to estimate the economic impact of the newly announced economic shutdown, but the EK said last week’s political strikes and other industrial action could reduce gross domestic product by €360 million. We estimate that. A total of around 300,000 employees took part in the almost unprecedented action organized between last Wednesday and Friday.
“The cost will depend on which unions ultimately participate in the suspension. We are not hiding this information, but will announce it as soon as we receive it,” Oksala said.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT