Finland
The JHL public services union is organising a 24-hour strike of bus drivers in Helsinki on 2 May. The strike is in protest at the refusal of the PTY employers’ organisation to apply the national framework agreement. JHL wants to prevent the employers undermining drivers’ pay and conditions.
Read more at > JHL (FI)
The ADEDY public sector confederation organised a 24-hour strike on 19 December in its latest protest at austerity measures. It argues that the cuts in public sector are so deep that it can no longer operate effectively and deliver services to citizens. It is difficult to keep up with the "reforms" being imposed on public sector workers but this article by the EIRO industrial relations observatory reviews some of the main cuts and freezes on pay and recruitment. There is a new public sector pay structure, a weakening of the role of trade unions and restructuring of public sector organisations
Hospital doctors protested against changes to the arrangements for how they are appointed and to linking their pay to performance. The 24-hour stoppage took place from 18.30 on 11 May. The FO union is concerned about the implications of the new salary arrangements particularly with many hospitals in financial difficulty. They also see it as a step towards privatisation of public hospitals. Read more at > FOSPS
The ADEDY public sector confederation will be joining with the GSEE private sector confederation and other trade union and professional organisations in a 24-hour general strike on 30 May in protest at the continuing austerity being imposed on workers and citizens. ADEDY says that public sector workers are still suffering from pay cuts of up to 40% while more precarious working conditions have spread across the public services and there are critical staff shortages in important areas of health and social services.
