Finnish unions extend strikes against government by one week

Finland's industrial, logistics and electrical workers will extend their ongoing two-week strikes by one week until March 31, the unions and their federation SAK said on Wednesday, after meeting with Minister of Employment Arto Satonen.

The workers have been on strike since March 11, targeting exports, imports and cargo transportation, the latest in a series of union action in protest against government labour reforms and welfare cuts. "From our perspective the meeting was a disappointment and obviously we are very worried over the fact that the government is so stubborn and unresponsive even to our far-reaching compromise proposals," SAK chairman Jarkko Eloranta told reporters, referring to the meeting with the minister.

The standoff began last year when Finland's newly elected right-wing government announced plans to favour local work agreements over centralised bargains, limit political strikes, cut social welfare and make it easier to terminate contracts.

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