Thousands gather in Helsinki for municipal march News
A week-long industrial struggle for municipal workers has not yet been resolved.
About 3,000 municipal workers landed in Helsinki on Friday to take part in a demonstration march as part of a week-long nationwide labor struggle that began earlier this week.
The unions said the frustration of workers was due to labor shortages that created stagnant wages and poor working conditions.
More than 80,000 municipal employees, including about 20,000 teachers, are currently on strike in 10 cities across Finland.
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The Helsinki demonstration was organized by the public sector trade unions Juko, Jyty and JHL.
The procession began at the Senate Square and ended in front of the Parliament House.
Strikers have demanded more resources and higher wages through a multi-year wage program that would allow for wage increases for municipal workers.
Although no solution has yet been reached, the Minister of Labor’s proposal Tuula Haatainen (SDP) is expected on Friday. The industrial action is scheduled to end on Monday, May 9th.
Sami HyvönenHelsinki-based youth counselors, was part of a demonstration march towards the parliament building.
“A decent salary is needed for this job. I personally have to seriously consider whether I should move out of Helsinki so that my family has enough space,” Hyvönen said.
He added that he has been in the industry since 1996 and has worked for the City of Helsinki since 2007, and his concerns were repeated throughout the demonstration.