Finland’s New Strike Law Under Fire: ‘Unilateral and One-Sided’

Finland’s right-wing government has passed legislation that severely curtails the right to strike, sparking sharp criticism from union lawyers who say the changes are ‘unclear and one-sided.’ The new rules, enacted in spring 2024, limit political strikes to 24 hours, impose tough restrictions on sympathy strikes, and dramatically increase union strike fines.

Anna Tapio, head of the Industrial Union’s legal department, and lawyer Susanna Holmberg argue the measures are substantial and create insecurity. ‘The employees’ possibility to influence has been limited really harshly,’ Tapio said. Holmberg noted that political strikes have been marginal in Finland, so there is no clear case law. ‘Where this limit would have been, we do not know, as political strikes have never been a problem,’ she added.

The government raised union strike fines to a minimum of 10,000 euros and a maximum of 150,000 euros, up from a previous maximum of 31,900 euros with no minimum. Meanwhile, fines for employers who violate collective agreements were left unchanged. As a new measure, personal sanctions can be imposed on employees who participate in a strike judged illegal by a court, though such cases are extremely rare.

The legislation also introduces vague terms for sympathy strikes, which cannot be ‘disproportionate’—a term left undefined. Unions face difficult decisions due to these uncertainties. ‘Insecurity itself may limit union actions. One must be conscious of taking major risks,’ Tapio said. The government plans additional legislation on protection work, which could further complicate strike actions. Despite the changes, employees can still safely join union-organized strikes without risk of dismissal.

Article source: heikkijokinen.info | Image credit: Euronews.com