Following a vote, Millariikka Rytkönen was unanimously elected to the position. Rytkönen beat her opponent Kim Yli-Pelkola in the vote by 68– 15. Rytkönen has led Tehy since 2017 and she was now selected for her third term for the years 2025–2029. Rytkönen is a practical nurse, midwife (bachelor’s degree) and nurse (master’s degree) by training.
Government attacks wage earners and welfare state
According to Rytkönen, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government is dealing an exceptionally forceful blow to workers.
– This Government hates wage earners. The elimination of the tax deductibility of labour market organisation membership fees is a direct attack against ordinary working people. At the same time, the Government is postponing the processing of the proposal by the trade unions regarding tax on returns on investments – the motive behind this is not economic, but political.
This is not about balancing public finances, but the run-down of the welfare state.
– Talk of debt is a smoke screen. The Government is making cuts on health and social services and social security, but targeting billions of euros of tax cuts for the well-to-do at the same time.
The best professionals in the world deserve respect – not punishment
Tehy’s The Best in the World campaign highlights who we will lose if the current trend continues. The collectible cards, created as part of the campaign, depict the passion and competence of Tehy members – the resource that keeps Finland going.
– There is no welfare state without them. Without them, we will not be able to ensure basic rights, Rytkönen stressed.
The results of Tehy’s 1000+1 wishes survey were an alarming read. In the responses, members of Tehy talked about personal, tangible wishes. A mental health nurse wanted more beds, an instructor wanted to be safe from violence and an assistant nurse manager wanted to have time off at Christmas.
– These hopes paint a picture of what employees really need: respect, time, protection and an opportunity to rest.
Calling for fairer public spending
Rytkönen proposed a new approach to directing funding to the social services and health care sector. Public spending must be made more efficient – not on the people’s terms, but on that of the system. Healthcare is plagued by system-level deficiencies and overlaps, which experts have also pointed out.
The status and task of occupational healthcare, for example, should be redefined.
– We must be able to change this enormous system so that we use public money to get the maximum health and social welfare benefits for all Finns. Not just the privileged few.
At the same time, wellbeing service counties are placed under impossible pressure to save on costs and public services are driven into a downward spiral of cuts.
– We may need another systemic change in Finland. In my opinion, five wellbeing service counties would have been enough. This is in line with what Tehy, the Finnish Medical Association and the Finnish Confederation of Professionals have been saying for at least ten years. I do not want a new social welfare reform for the next term, because we well and truly need to give wellbeing services counties and health and social welfare professionals the resources and time to do their societally essential jobs.
Rytkönen hoped that parties would come together and create a long-term binding plan on how to untangle the health and social services gridlock and secure public health and social services in case of future crises.
Rule of law under threat – Tehy will not remain silent
Rytkönen also mentioned the criminal report filed by Tehy on the actions of officials at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and criticised the decision by the police not to investigate the matter.
–If officials are not held accountable and employees have no legal protection, we are not living in a civilised country anymore. This is a disgrace.
Rytkönen did not mince her words when addressing decision-makers.
– We are an educated people. We are not stupid. We see and understand what is happening in Finland right now. And we cannot accept it. This country does not need new divisions but common solutions. We can only bring back common sense, integrity and justice to politics by working together.
Millariikka Rytkönen’s speech is available in full on the Tehy Council organisation meeting website with images for use by the media.
Further information and interview requests:
Tehy Chairperson Millariikka Rytkönen, requests for interview through Special Advisor Mila Huovinen, [email protected], tel. +358 (0)400 540 005
