Reviewing the results of a new survey commissioned by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA, a think tank founded by employers' lobby groups, Ilta-Sanomat reports that the government's labour market plans are dividing the nation.
According to the survey, 45 percent of respondents said they think the government's labour market reforms are necessary, while 42 percent disagreed.
Views on the series of political strikes that have hit the country also divide respondents into two camps. Just over 40 percent of respondents in the poll would be prepared to ban strikes altogether that cause major inconvenience to non-union members, while 46 percent reject the idea.
Ilta-Sanomat quotes Eva Managing Editor Sami Metelinen as saying it is noteworthy that the proportion of respondents in favour of banning these kinds of strikes has increased significantly over the past year. A similar survey last year last year found 30 percent were in favour of a ban and 51 percent were opposed.
The party affiliation of the respondents is reflected in the polling figures. Ninety-two percent of National Coalition supporters and 82 percent of Finns Party supporters agree that the government's labour market measures are necessary to improve the country's economy. Those are the two main parties in the current government.
Among opposition parties, 94 percent of Left Alliance supporters reject the government's policies, as do 84 percent of Social Democratic voters and 79 percent of backers of the Greens.
Meanwhile 56 percent of opposition Centre Party supporters back the government's plans.
The survey also looked at views on political strikes, with 17 percent of respondents saying unions should not stage protests at all during working hours and 27 percent saying there should be no restrictions on such actions. A total of 56 percent were of the opinion that that political strikes should last no longer than 2-3 days.
Almost 2,100 people responded to the survey conducted by the pollster Taloustutkimus between 13 and 21 March. The margin of error is ± 2-3 percentage points.
All Points North looks into Finland's latest wave of political strikes and asks where unions, employers and the government go from here. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
A battle for souls
An editorial in Wednesday morning's Helsingin Sanomat points out that ongoing industrial action involves the mobilisation of public opinion, both for and against.
The strike situation is at a delicate stage, says HS. There is also a battle for the souls of Finns – with the question being how many accept strikes as a means of opposing the government?
The paper points out that acceptance of using industrial action to assert political pressure remains strong, but adds that this is perhaps because the strikes going on right now are designed to cause as little disruption as possible to normal life.
But for the unions, this is a balancing act. If daycare centres close down and buses no longer run, the mood may change suddenly. Then not only the perception of the legitimacy of these strikes may be shaken, but also public opinion of the trade union movement.
Helsingin Sanomat notes that young people in particular have become less interested in trade union membership and it seems that local labour agreements are becoming more widespread, whether union federations like it or not.
So far, employees have fared well in the current battle of wills, but the next steps pose a danger, writes HS. If the government does not back down, and does not intend to do so, the union backlash will have to intensify. As the blows become harder, they will inevitably even more impact the basic needs of Finns - and arouse a more emotional response.
Motorists' worries
Finnish oil refiner Neste announced Tuesday that it can no longer guarantee sufficient fuel supplies to its nationwide chain of petrol stations due to the ongoing political strikes.
As Iltalehti notes, this announcement comes just before the long Easter weekend, when many people have plans drive to ski resorts in Lapland, for example.
Although one chain many have problems with supplies, other operators in the sector told Iltalehti motorists heading out on the roads for Easter shouldn't worry about tanking up.
Harri Tuomaala, who heads the chain of ABC stations, told the paper that the petrol supply situation is currently normal, and there should be no problems over Easter either.
"The situation is very good at the ABC chain. Through our normal operations, we can ensure that every outlet operates as usual," said Tuomaala.
Toni Flyckt, the marketing and communications director at Teboil, had the same message - there is plenty of fuel and Easter travellers can count on it being available.
"Teboil has the fuel," Flyckt told Iltalehti.
The paper also reports that the St1 announced in its latest update last Thursday that the strikes may have an impact on the availability of fuel at individual stations. The chain's communications manager, Liisa Joenpolvi, told IL there is no new information on the matter at the moment.
Stubb to the provinces
Karjalainen is among the papers reporting that President Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb are visiting Eastern Finland Wednesday on their first official domestic trip since he took over the presidency at the start of the month.
The first stop during the day will be a visit to the Niirala border guard station in Tohmajärvi.
After visiting the border, the presidential couple will meet with representatives of the city of Joensuu. They will then visit a primary school in Joensuu, where schoolchildren will have the opportunity to interview the president.
The visit will end with coffee and a meet-and-greet with the public at Joensuu's market square.
A day of sunshine
"Sun, rain, some snow and overcast. At least the Easter weather will be varied," the main Swedish-language daily Hufvudstadsbladet tells its readers.
Looking at the forecast from Finnish Meteorological Institute, the paper says that Thursday will bring sunshine across the nation, with temperatures in the Turku region rising to around 10 degrees Celsius.
On Good Friday, however, the weather will change as a low pressure area moves in over the southern parts of the country. Rain is expected throughout the day and temperatures will be much lower.
The weekend's weather is difficult to predict as several smaller low pressures over the Atlantic are heading towards Finland.
Hufvudstadsbladet also reminds us that "summertime" is almost here.
Daylight savings time starts Sunday with clocks being set forward by one hour, as has been done in Finland since 1981. The same practice now applies throughout the EU.
In 2018, the European Commission proposed that EU countries stop adjusting their clocks twice a year. The European Parliament gave the proposal the green light.
Hufvudstadsbladet notes, however, that the proposal stalled in the European Council, where it has still not been discussed, according to a Finnish Interior Ministry in a press release.
EDIT 11:39 Added a description of EVA's background.
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