NFU stands in solidarity with the political strikes in Finland

Trade Union Pro, NFU’s Finnish affiliate, along with several Finnish trade unions, are holding political strikes on February 1 and 2. These strikes extend across multiple sectors, including the financial sector. The Nordic Financial Unions stand in solidarity with these strikes and support the Finnish trade unions against the government’s anti-worker policies.

The Finnish trade union confederations STTK and SAK are organising a protest against the government’s changes to working life on February 1 at 12:00 in Helsinki, where Pro members will participate. The Nordic Financial Unions stand in solidarity with these strikes and support the Finnish trade unions against the government’s anti-worker policies.

The current strikes in Finland are a response to the formation of a right-wing coalition following the parliamentary elections in April 2023. This coalition, which includes the extreme-right party True Finns, has implemented an aggressive anti-worker program that undermines workers’ livelihoods and working conditions. The program is notably imbalanced, targeting workers with cuts while making no demands of employers.

The government’s approach has been marked by a series of measures adversely affecting workers’ rights, including heightened penalties for strike participation, reducing the duration and scope of political and secondary strikes, and diminishing the leverage of trade unions by undermining the roles of shop stewards and the enforceability of collective bargaining agreements. Moreover, the programme proposes cuts to social benefits affecting low-income workers, the unemployed, pensioners, and families, which threaten the foundations of the welfare state.

The proposed government programme has raised widespread concerns, which have been repeatedly voiced to the government. After the government’s consistent refusal to engage in genuine negotiations, Trade Union Pro was compelled to continue and expand its organisational efforts to ensure its members’ voices are heard.

We, the Nordic Financial Unions, stand in solidarity with our Finnish colleagues in opposing the government’s anti-worker agenda through political strikes. We urge the Finnish government to resume negotiations with the trade unions and restore the constructive relationship between the government and social partners. This would enable the continuation of Finland’s long-respected tradition of developing and improving labour conditions through dialogue.