Jarkko Eloranta, president of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), has called on the government to abandon any proposed labour market reforms that would not improve employment.
On Saturday, the leader of the biggest labour federation said that the government does not need to back down on all of its planned labour market reforms.
According to Eloranta, it would be enough if the right-wing government would listen to the concerns of employees and give up on proposed changes that they oppose which would have no impact on employment.
Next week, the SAK plans to continue a widespread wave of political strikes to protest the government's proposals. They are primarily aimed at heavy industry and exports.
The SAK represents 18 trade unions with over 800,000 members.
PM: Government won’t compromise
Eloranta spoke to the Finnish news agency STT, responding to comments earlier in the day by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP).
Speaking on the Yle current-affairs programme Ykkösaamu on Saturday morning, Orpo said that it seems that the SAK would accept nothing less than for the government to back down on its planned labour market reforms.
He said that the government does not intend to compromise on the main tenets of its labour market policy.
The PM said that the cabinet has genuinely listened and aimed to discuss with labour market groups in three-way working groups focusing on two central issues: expanding localised rather than central agreements and a future wage model where all pay rises would be capped based on those in export industries.
The unions argue that these measures would hurt workers, especially in female-dominated sectors.
Poll: Narrow majority still support strikes, margin slipping
According to an Yle poll published on Saturday, just over half of the adult population approve of the ongoing political strikes, a decline from previous surveys. The strongest support was among women, people under 35 and union members.
According to Taloustutkimus CEO Jari Pajunen, by far the strongest support was among backers of two opposition parties: the Social Democrats and the Left Alliance
Support dipped to 51 percent, with 41 percent of respondents saying they do not approve of the strikes and eight percent undecided.
Meanwhile 59 percent said they were dissatisfied with the Orpo government's planned labour reforms, while 35 percent expressed satisfaction.
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