Finland - April 2024

On 8 May, Parliament passed legislation limiting the length of political strikes to 24 hours and introducing personal fines of EUR 200 for individual employees who continue to participate in strikes found illegal by courts. Additionally, maximum fines for unions found to be organizing illegal strikes were raised from EUR 37,400 to EUR 150,000. Political strikes comprise actions not aimed at collective bargaining, but rather targeting political decision-making. The government says the bill will help reduce labour market disruptions, after months of large-scale and protracted political strikes and industrial action in response to the government’s planned cuts to social security and controversial labour reforms. In mid-April, the International Labour Organization (ILO) sent a letter to the Minister of Labour Arto Satonen urging the government to negotiate with partners on any potential limitations on the right to strike. 

Sources: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Yle (1), Yle (2), Yle (3), The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), Teollisuusliitto, Eduskunta (1), Eduskunta (2)