Labour unions in Finland commenced a three-day nationwide strike on Wednesday, impacting approximately 300,000 workers and causing significant disruptions across various sectors. The strike is a protest against proposed revisions to labour market legislation and social security cuts put forward by the centre-right government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
The extensive strikes will lead to the closure of kindergartens, pre-schools, disruptions in air traffic and postal services, cessation of public transport, and shutdowns in factories throughout the country. Industries such as grocery stores, hotels, and restaurants will also be severely affected during the three-day strike.
Finnair, the national airline, announced the cancellation of around 550 flights and substantial reductions in traffic at Helsinki Airport, its main base. The strikes were primarily organized by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions and the Finnish Confederation of Professionals.
Union members argue that the government’s proposed measures will exacerbate societal inequality, weaken the position of workers, and adversely impact lower-income groups and the unemployed. One contentious proposal by the government is linking pay across the economy to the export sector, restricting the ability of the national labour mediator to propose higher wage hikes in labor disputes than those agreed upon in the export sector.
The objective of the trade unions is to compel the government to engage in discussions with labour organizations regarding the suggested social security cuts. The strikes are a manifestation of broader discontent within the workforce over perceived threats to workers’ rights and social security provisions.
