”It takes great courage to defend the weakest”

PAM’s president Annika Rönni-Sällinen and council chairman Sami Viitasaari highlighted in their opening remarks the effects of the government’s cuts on workers’ lives and the important role that the trade union movement has as a defendant of working men and women.

Annika Rönni-Sällinen described the situation in Finland as gloomy.

− The government seems to be driving Finland into an ever deeper negative spiral of contradictions and conflicts. Are increasing confrontations and inequality really what Finnish working life and companies need?

Rönni-Sällinen listed the government’s measures that undermine the employees’ status and security. She cited changes limiting the possibility of political and sympathy strikes as well as tougher sanctions for so-called illegal strikes as particularly worrying.

Council chairman Sami Viitasaari emphasized the trade union movement’s current challenges and, on the other hand, its long history.

− When have we not had a hard time? For more than 100 years, there have been hard times, the reasons have only varied and will continue to do so, Viitasaari recalled and continued:

− It takes great courage to defend the weakest. We have to show that it is not okay for us to trample upon those who are in the weakest position.

The upcoming EU elections were mentioned as an important channel for influence in many of the speeches. Rönni-Sällinen underlined that you can have an impact by voting and that it is important to choose candidates who really promote the interests of the employees.

− The EU election is an important opportunity to influence. Now is the time for all of us to remember and be reminded that by voting we can support workers’ rights.

PAM’s council was held on 22-23 May 2024 in Helsinki. At the meeting, many speeches were given by council members and greetings were heard from employees all over Finland.

Text and photos: Minttu Sallinen