JHL (30.04.2015 - Heikki Jokinen) One out of ten Finnish MPs is a member of JHL following the Parliamentary elections April 17. Of the 200 seats, which make up the Finnish Parliament, 21 were won by members of the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.
”It is a great result”, says JHL chairperson Jarkko Eloranta. ”I wish luck, energy and wisdom to all those who now begin to work in this dignified task under demanding circumstances.”
Out of 21 JHL members elected to Parliament 16 belong to the Social Democratic Party and two to the Left Alliance. The remaining three seats went to Centre Party, Christian Democrats and the Finns Party.
Eloranta also thanked all those who put themselves forward and who, in spite of their tremendous campaigning efforts, didn’t manage to get elected. Close cooperation with these individuals with regard to public services and its employees will continue in many other connections, he said. At least 120 JHL members stood as candidates for Parliament.
The elections were a victory for right wing parties and left wing parties suffered their worst election result since the first Finnish elections in 1907.
The clear winner this time round was the centre-right Centre Party. The populist-nationalist, right wing Finns Party gained enough seats to become the second largest party in the new Parliament.
”According to the election results Finland seems to have moved further to the right and in an altogether more conservative direction”, JHL chairperson Eloranta says. It is still difficult to say just who will be in the new government, as negotiations to form a new government are still ongoing.
”No matter which parties are in government they will come up against problems concerning public finances and weaknesses in the export market. These will be highlighted by the high unemployment figures and growing inequality not just between citizens but between different parts of the country and between different municipalities.”
Structural changes in the public sector will be one of the priorities for the next government. However, as with all reforms there is a need for good cooperation with employees and their unions, Eloranta stresses.
He hopes that a meaningful and respectful cooperation between government and the trade union movement can emerge. ”We do need consensus now, even though there are clearly different opinions as to possible solutions.”