Labour union warns new government over interference with right to strike

The Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees STTK is appealing to the next government, hoping that it would not interfere with the size of strike fines nor with the right to strike.
      "Strike fines are no acute problem in Finland, and there is no reason to change them", said STTK President Mikko Mäenpää at a press conference on Monday.
      Jyrki Katainen, the chairman of the Finnish National Coalition Party, which is likely to be one of the government parties, commented on Saturday that the restriction of the right to strike should be discussed. In practice, it could mean an increase in strike fines.
     
According to Mäenpää, STTK is hoping for good cooperation with the new government as well, while expecting the Prime Minister to invite the labour market organisations to negotiations on the preconditions for a collective agreement before the 1st of May.
      Mäenpää also stated that there are no hard feelings for the previous right-wing government that was led by Esko Aho (Centre). It is the Government programme that counts, he said.
      Mäenpää also sent his regards to the upcoming government, saying that it would not get rid of the promises which were given to the professionals in the health care sector prior to the March elections.
      He proposed a long-standing development programme for the health care sector, to be entered into in connection with the next comprehensive incomes policy agreement.
     
Mäenpää also expressed criticism against the theses put forward by Sixten Korkman, the Managing Director of the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA.
      Korkman had proposed that instead of collective bargaining, salaries would be settled in-house, even individually, without assistance from outside an organisation.
      On the contrary, Mäenpää would include further issues in the collective bargaining, such as for example training and housing policies. However, he agrees with Korkman that certain needs exist to develop the current collective bargaining.
      On Monday, even the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK gave instructions to the upcoming government, demanding that unemployment security must not be weakened.
     
The SAK board discussed the labour organisations' joint goals relating to the government programme. The organisations want to develop job creation and overall unemployment security in order to improve the operation of labour market.
      In SAK's view, Finland's income security for the unemployed is so far behind the other Nordic countries that the government programme will have to contain a promise to increase unemployment benefits.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Labour leader hopes for good cooperation with new government (30.3.2007)
  Call for end of large tripartite collective labour contracts (26.3.2007)
  Heavy fines for May´s illegal strikes at pulp and paper mills (3.1.2007)

Links:
  The Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees STTK
  The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK
  Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA