Helsinki (06.02.2009 - Juhani Artto) This Monday the Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen voiced his criticism of most Finnish Members of the European Parliament, in relation to the recent voting on the working hour directive. Only two Finnish MEPs supported the proposal, approved by the Council of Ministers and, according to Vanhanen, overwhelmingly approved in Finland across party lines.
Vanhanen's statement was indiscreet and undervalued the rules of democracy, the staff members of the EWCs of eight large Finnish forest industry companies (Stora Enso, UPM, M-real etc.) claimed at their meeting on Thursday. Vanhanen's interference in the independent consideration and voting behaviour of the MEPs, elected by the Finnish people, also shows lack of expertise, the union representatives said.
They wondered whether this was a clumsy attempt by Vanhanen to raise his political profile by walking over the democratically elected representatives in relation to EU matters.
They also wondered if the Prime Minister was himself not well aware of the concrete context of the working hour directive. EWC representatives pointed out that the proposal, opposed by most of the Finnish MEPs, would allow even 70- hour working weeks.
The staff members of the EWCs decided to consolidate their mutual cooperation and coordination of their work in the EWCs. They also declared their readiness for closer cooperation within the Finnish Council of Industrial Unions TP that consists of 14 trade unions.
They expressed their dissatisfaction with the limited participation of the employer representatives in EWC sessions.
"The employee and employer representatives should be able to strengthen their cooperation in the EWCs as the recession shakes up the whole of Europe", participants at the meeting said.
These delegates at the EWCs represent workers and salaried employees who are rank and file members of the Paper Workers' Union, the Wood and Allied Workers' Union and the Union of Salaried Employees TU.