Few Strikes Over Pay
Some workers at Finnish ski resorts were briefly on strike late last year.
Image: YLE / Ensio Karjalainen
The number of strikes and labour actions seen in Finland of late is only a fraction of what it was two decades ago. The main reasons for strikes have also changed in recent years.
In 1988, there were more than 1300 strikes recorded in Finland. In 2008 there were 92.
Late in the last century, strikes, walkouts and similar organised labour actions were more common in Finland than in other industrialised countries. Nowadays, the number of strikes annually is more or less the same as in Sweden, Austria, Denmark or Ireland.
The reasons for labour action have also undergone a change. Traditionally workers went on strike here for more pay. In 1990 there were 176 strikes over pay issues. In 2008, pay demands were behind only 10 strikes.
Finnish society in the 1970s was strongly politicised and this was reflected in the labour market. Strikes during that period had a very evident political aspect.
The economic recession of the 1990s brought the wheels of business and industry to a near halt and all but put a stop to any strikes. The recession also shifted the focus of labour union concerns. Since then, strikes have been less about money and more often than not about personnel cuts and the redistribution of jobs.
Fears that increasing numbers of jobs will be transferred to low-wage countries, and the outsourcing of jobs were among the main reasons for union actions last year.
Between January and June of 2009, there were only three strikes over pay issues. Staff cut plans led to 33 strikes and the redistribution of jobs was the cause of 13.
Figures from the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK show that during the last half of 2009, there were 21 labour actions in the private sector, over half of which were sparked off by job cuts or outsourcing. Only three were over pay.
YLE