Finland – demonstrations to counter government attack on collective bargaining

If the government proposals are approved, Finnish workers could be deprived of a number of rights, including rights laid down in collective agreements.

The Finnish government is using the pretext of boosting competitiveness in order to:

• Eliminate pay for two bank holidays;
• Make the first day of a worker’s sick leave unpaid and reduce the benefits for days two to nine;
• Reduce compensation for overtime;
• Reduce the level of extra pay given to workers for working on Sundays;
• Cut holidays in the public sector.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina underlines the full support for Finnish trade unions' demands that the government withdraw these legislative proposals:

We urge the government to sit down with the unions that represent a big majority of the Finnish workforce, and hold discussions with them in good faith to find solutions that the Finnish people can accept, whilst respecting the social partners in the country and their right to conduct collective bargaining freely.