The strike action was called to protest government plans to reform labor laws that trade unions say will reduce the incomes of Finland’s poorest people.
advertisementFinland suffered a third day of industrial action on Friday, with its transport sector crippled by strikes by workers operating trams, trains, buses, ferries, ports, airports and airlines. .
Strikes also continue at cleaning companies, factories, mines and refineries, construction companies and the postal service.
Trade unions have called for a wave of industrial action to protest government proposals to reform labor laws, which they say will negatively impact low-wage workers and shift the balance of power in pay-setting towards employers.
An estimated 300,000 workers went on strike on Thursday, and 10,000 took part in a rally in the capital Helsinki to denounce government actions, which mean lower wages and less favorable conditions for workers. The union argues that.
Social Democratic Party member Pia Hiltunen He said the government’s measures “do not bring stability and confidence to people’s daily lives.”
Hiltunen, a member of parliament for the northern city of Oulu, said: “I am concerned about the weakening of working life due to government initiatives.The impact will mainly be on young people.”
“The weakening of the government is manifested in people’s daily lives, for example in the unpaid first day of sick leave, in the weakening of income-based unemployment insurance, in the discontinuance of adult education support. It is natural that we do this, and it is a function of daily life that is important to protect in this situation.”
The government insists that fundamental reforms are needed to make the Finnish economy more competitive.
MP Ate KalevaLawmakers from the ruling right-wing National Union Party said the government “has no intention of backing down” from implementing the reforms.
“Unlike its compatriots Sweden, Denmark and Germany, the Finnish economy has not grown since 2008. In these countries, the necessary structural reforms to working life were already implemented 15 to 20 years ago. This has not yet been implemented in our country.”
The National United Party was in power from 2008 to 2015 and again from 2023.
“We need to balance the economy. It cannot be done in one term, but we have to change direction now. Nordic prosperity can no longer be sustained on debt. In principle, everyone of working age and ability I have to work.” Kaleva.