Chair of the OAJ, Katarina Murto, resigned her membership of the National Coalition Party. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva
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The chair of Finland’s largest teachers’ union, Katarina Murto, has resigned from the National Coalition Party in protest at a political ad campaign she described as an attack on organised labour.
Murto, who leads the Trade Union of Education (OAJ), said on Tuesday that the party’s recent advertising, which contrasted the tax impact on unionised and non-unionised teachers, was a step too far.
The ad, published by the party, visually implied that teachers who belong to unions would receive smaller income tax reductions than those who do not. This outcome stems from the government’s decision to remove the tax deductibility of union membership fees — a policy adopted in the recent spending framework agreement.
“I find the campaign deeply troubling and a bewildering attack not only on teachers but on all wage earners who are union members,” Murto said in a public Facebook post.
She confirmed that she has now left the National Coalition Party after more than two decades of membership.
“The party membership allowed me to advocate effectively for employees and the organisations I represent. But I can no longer support a party that targets the foundation of our labour model,” she wrote.
Murto clarified that she would not be joining another party.
The backlash follows broader criticism from trade unions about the government’s labour market reforms, including the so-called export-led wage model and an increase in local bargaining powers. The unions argue these policies disproportionately affect public sector workers and undermine collective bargaining.
The removal of tax deductibility for union and employer association membership fees was one of the most contentious decisions made by the coalition in its mid-term review.
Jari Jokinen, the longstanding managing director of the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK), also said he is considering leaving the party. Jokinen has been a member of the National Coalition Party for 41 years.
“I joined the party when I was in high school because it stood for individual responsibility and rational governance. But this move shows a worrying ignorance of how our labour market functions,” he said.
Jokinen stressed that organised labour brings predictability to the economy and warned that dismantling the current system would endanger industrial peace.
“The current model allows companies to rely on negotiated terms without having to draft separate agreements themselves. If we destroy this, we risk destabilising the entire labour framework,” he said.
He added that while he had previously disagreed with the government’s direction, such as pushing local bargaining or export-driven pay models, this latest development goes beyond policy.
“This campaign misrepresents what union membership means and devalues one of the most important collective tools employees have,” he said. Jokinen said he would “sleep on” the decision before making his resignation final.
In response to the controversy, the National Coalition Party acknowledged the criticism. Communications and public affairs manager Raine Tiessalo said the campaign had failed to convey its message as intended.
“The aim was sincere: to visualise how tax reductions would affect different people,” he said. “But we acknowledge that we failed. The images will be withdrawn, and we will learn from this.”
The campaign and the backlash come amid a politically tense climate, as the government continues to push through reforms affecting unions and employment legislation. Union leaders and opposition politicians have warned that the direction of labour policy may have long-term consequences for Finland’s employment relations.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
