Demonstration against proposed anti-union legislation
Finland’s trade unions are mobilizing against the new right-wing coalition government’s plan to unilaterally cut pay and benefits negotiated through collective bargaining, and are asking for solidarity and support.
On September 9, after unions refused to agree to the proposals, the government announced a series of measures to be legislated and imposed as collective agreements begin to expire next year. These include substantial reductions in compensation for overtime, weekend and night work, no compensation for the first day of employee sickness and reductions in sick pay for days 2-9, reducing and limiting annual leave to 30 days (5 weeks is the norm in many sectors) and the elimination of two national holidays, which would become working days or unpaid holidays.
Unions estimate that the impact would be a 4-6% reduction in pay, with the impact falling hardest on the most vulnerable, including part-time and women workers.
Members of SAK, Akava and STTK unions will demonstrate on Helsinki Railway Station Square on Friday 18 September from 11 a.m.
The demonstration is in defense of the labor market organizations’ right to determine collective agreements and in opposition to the government’s unilateral decisions to weaken employees’ terms of employment. On Tuesday the government announced changes including forced restrictions to annual holiday entitlement, an unpaid sick leave waiting day, turning weekday holidays into days without pay and cuts to overtime and Sunday work compensation.
The chairmen of the trade union confederations stress that employees cannot accept the government’s coercive measures. The government is not respecting employees’ and employers’ right to determine labor costs and other terms of employment. It is also threatening to breach the internationally recognized principle that the law primarily protects the weaker party.
NU HRCT urges all trade unions to send messages of solidarity and support in their fight to defeat this anti-union legislation.
In addition to the demonstration, you can make a stand by signing an online petition. The trade union confederations have opened the petition at terveisithallitukselle.fi in defense of the right to set terms and to oppose the unilateral weakening of working conditions.
The social media hash tag the employee demonstration is #STOP.