Finland hit by massive strike to protest plans for social security cuts and wage changes

Finnish trade unions went on strike on Wednesday, starting a three-day labor action affecting up to 300,000 workers and causing severe disruption to daily life.

Trade unions are protesting against reforms to labor market laws and social security cuts proposed by Prime Minister Petteri Orupo’s centre-right government.

Strikes are closing kindergartens and daycare centers, disrupting air traffic and postal services, shutting down public transportation, and shutting down factories across the country. Grocery stores, hotels and restaurants are also set to go on strike from Wednesday to Friday across the country, which has a population of 5.6 million people.

National airline Finnair said it had been forced to cancel around 550 flights, significantly reducing traffic at its main hub Helsinki Airport.

Most of the strikes were called by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions and the Finnish Professional Federation.

Affiliated unions argue that the measures proposed by Olupo’s cabinet will widen social inequality, weaken the position of workers and negatively impact low-income groups and the unemployed.

The government is proposing a system that would link wages across the economy to export sectors. This would prohibit national labor conciliators, who are often involved in wage setting, from proposing wage increases above those agreed with export sectors in any labor dispute.

According to Finnish media, the union’s aim is to force the government to start talks with labor groups about proposed cuts to social security.