We asked our members whether Suomen Ekonomit as an organisation should participate in a potential political demonstration organised by Akava together with all other Akava associations. 2,947 members responded to the survey.
- 57% of respondents objected to participating in the demonstration
- 36.7% of the respondents were in favour of participating in the demonstration
- 6.3% did not know their position.
When entrepreneurs were removed from the respondents, 38.4 per cent supported the demonstration and 55.1 per cent opposed it. Of the respondents, about seven per cent were entrepreneurs and about 86 per cent were employed. The remaining seven per cent included students and unemployed members.
Members were also asked about their own readiness to participate in a political demonstration by Akava, if such a demonstration were to take place.
- 65% of respondents were not ready to participate in any kind of political demonstration
- A total of 13% of respondents were ready to participate in a day-long demonstration
- A total of 6% of the respondents were ready to participate in a demonstration in their free time
- 6% of the respondents were prepared to participate in a demonstration that took place during working hours and lasted a few hours
- 10% of the respondents could not say whether they would be willing to participate in a demonstration.
The reforms also raise concerns
Riku Salokannel, Labour Market Director for Suomen Ekonomit, points out that a large number of respondents supported the demonstration, which must also be taken into consideration.
The answers to the open-ended questions in the survey clearly revealed, for example, concerns about the relaxation of the grounds for dismissal and the cuts in earnings-related daily allowance. If implemented, the changes would complicate the everyday work of many business school graduates.
‘We have been in direct contact with political decision-makers and offered options and fine adjustments for government proposals. For example, with regard to earnings-related unemployment security, we have stated that it should encourage rapid employment. Tiering is acceptable, but the support should not decrease too fast. The three-month staggering now planned is very challenging for our members, as in expert positions the recruitment process alone can take as long as three months. An active jobseeker should not be punished.’
Efforts to influence the government will continue. Salokannel knows that you don’t make progress by pressing the breaks. Instead, an alternative route must be provided.
Many trade unions have organised demonstrations throughout the autumn to oppose the government’s proposed changes in working life. Suomen Ekonomit will not participate in the demonstrations as an organisation, but can the members, if they so wish, participate in them?
‘Our guideline is that business school graduates continue doing their own jobs if demonstrations are held at their workplace during working hours by other unions’, Salokannel says.