Letter of Solidarity for the Finnish Trade Unions

Letter of Solidarity for the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT and Finnish Trade Unions

Dear Ambassador Vesa Vasara,                                          25.04.2024, nr.1- 219

Kohtu 4, 15180 Tallinn

We are writing to you on behalf of Estonian Seamen’s Independent Union. We are representing 2400 transport workers in Estonia and stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Finland in opposition to the dangerous and radical moves to undermine the voice of Finnish workers in Your country.

Our Finnish colleagues informed us about your government’s the most serious attack on workers’ rights and social security in the history of the Finnish welfare state.

The Finnish labour market and welfare state are among the most successful globally. At the heart of the Finnish labour model is the tradition of social dialogue between trade unions, employers, and the government, which has led to sectoral negotiations on collective agreements, tripartite negotiations on new legislative proposals and the expansion of the welfare state. This social contract is now being torn apart by your government.

If enacted, by our opinion, these reforms would set the country back decades and take it further away from its Nordic neighbours. Instead of being a world leader, Finland will be viewed as regressive and will call into question on any claims to moral leadership.

We condemn your politicians plans to the reform package by restricting the right to political strike in order to push through the other cuts without any real possibility of protests.

We stand in support our Finnish colleagues and strongly urge you to withdraw the proposed changes to the labour law.

Best regards,

Captain Jüri Lember

EMSA Chairman