Kindergartens, airports and factories: Tens of thousands of workers are on strike in Finland. Their protest is directed against the Finnish government’s austerity measures. The country is facing turbulent weeks.
When Finland elected a new parliament almost a year ago, people had the choice between increasing government spending – that was what the Social Democrats stood for – or adopting strict austerity measures. That was the concept of the conservative coalition party that won the election. Together with the right-wing populist Finnish Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats, the conservatives are in government and are now keeping their election promise.
Significant savings should be made – and that has been causing trouble in the country for months. “If you get sick, you shouldn’t get paid on the first day. We work with small children, there are a lot of illnesses, that’s unthinkable for us,” says Johanna Karlsson, a teacher in a kindergarten and union spokeswoman. “And also that money for further training should be cut. We have to constantly educate ourselves and also need more staff – that makes no sense.”
Daycare centers, airports and local transport affected by the strike
The strike is almost like a general strike: it started slowly on Wednesday with daycare centers closed. Today airports are closed. The strikes have an impact on schools, supermarkets, hotels and also industry. Public transport will be added at the end of the week. Tens of thousands of people are expected to stop working.
According to trade unions, the government’s reform package contains a lot of bad news, according to Jarkko Eloranta from the SAK trade union federation. “The general conditions for working life will change. The right to strike will be restricted, dismissals will be made easier. People will earn less.” The cuts in social benefits and income-related unemployment benefits are intended to save one billion euros – “that’s really remarkable.”
“Proposals for legislation bad for employees”
Things have been simmering in Finland for a long time: the first work stoppages took place in the fall. Back then, however, it was on a small scale – maybe for an hour at lunchtime. But now there are signs of a strike for the entire week and beyond.
There is zero willingness to compromise on both sides, says sociologist Mika Helander from the University of Turku. He accuses the right-wing conservative government of only taking one perspective into account: “The government program is very ideological. In its chapter on working life and the labor market there are only legislative proposals that are bad for employees. It is very one-sided.”
IMF supports government austerity plans
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo tried to avert the strikes. They are damaging the economy and are excessive, he warned. And the government is certainly willing to talk. “I have the strong feeling that the strikes are directly directed against the government and the government’s policies. But this government was elected, has a majority in parliament behind it and we are making the reforms that we believe are necessary,” said Orpo.
The Finnish government receives support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He recently expressed concern about the high national debt and welcomed the austerity plans. They could be even more comprehensive, it was said.
Finland’s government faces turbulent weeks ahead. The domestic political dispute over the reform package is just a construction site. Added to this is the tense situation at the border with Russia, which is still closed, and the country will also elect a new president the weekend after next.
Sofie Donges, ARD Stockholm, tagesschau, February 1, 2024 11:14 a.m