Political industrial actions are expected in different parts of Finland this week. The actions are against the government’s plans to cut working conditions and income.
The walkouts are expected to last 24 hours and could shut down production plants.
On Tuesday, the Industrial Union and Trade Union Pro are organizing work stoppages at around 20 companies in the Lapland and Oulu districts. Among them are companies in the wood and metal industries. At least the Finnish Construction Trade Union and the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union are also organizing their own walkouts in the same area on Tuesday.
The following day, the same unions will hold similar actions in southwestern Finland. The targets of the picketing include power plants owned by Turku Energia. On Thursday, there will be strikes in the Savo-Karelia region.
The Industrial Union, The Finnish Electrical Workers´ Union and the Finnish Construction Trade Union are members of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, which is leading a campaign of industrial action called “A Weighty Reason.”
So far, SAK’s negotiations with the government have been “fruitless,” as SAK President Jarkko Eloranta told Finnish media.
The trade unions are protesting against the cuts in labor and social security planned by the government of Petteri Orpo (NCP). Among other things, the government plans to restrict the right to strike and reduce income-related unemployment compensation.
