SAC suspends strike

Strikes threaten Finnish export industry

Article by Philipp Matzku (adapted for holzkurier.com; translated by Eva Guzely) | 05.04.2024 - 11:49

Since March 11, the large-scale strike announced by Finnish trade unions has been going on in the country’s export ports as well as in four major industrial companies. Finnish industry associations have criticized the strike as irresponsible. After the strikes have been extended until the end of this week, they will be suspended by the unions for about 10 days for the time being.

On April 3, the executive board of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAC) made the decision to suspend the industrial action, which has been going on since March 11, on April 8 for the time being. All strike action planned up to and including Sunday, April 7 will be carried out as planned, the SAC added.

The suspension of the strike gives the Finnish government the opportunity to return to the negotiating table. The latter has declared that it will not negotiate with the trade unions and will not put any compromise offers on the table as long as the strike continues. On April 1, various cuts in social benefits and social security came into force, which, according to the SAK, “will drive 100,000 adults and 17,000 children into poverty”.

The SAK’s executive board will assess the situation again during a meeting on April 18.