Trade union leader: government is fuelling class hatred
05.10.2012, 12:16Estonians must understand that the wage levels of Finland and Sweden are the result of the constant fight of trade unions and workers together, says Harri Taliga, head of the Estonian Central Union of Trade Unions.
Taliga claims that for the last ten years, ruling politicians in Estonia have been attempting to discredit the trade union movement.
He added that spring strikes of teachers and the current strike of medical workers is showing politicians that trade unions are a force to reckon with.
“I am sure that politicians are feeling this force. People are no longer gullible and passive and ready to accept all the euphoric stuff that is flowing down from Toompea,” said Taliga.
The trade union leader says that he is seeing very clear signs that certain processes are taking place in the society and that the old approach is no longer an option.
“Politicians must change and they must change their policies.”
Commenting prime minister’s claims that the nation’s top doctors are earning at least twice of what he is making, Taliga says that this is nothing else but fuelling class hatred.
“I remember that when there was a dispute over the ERSO orchestra, it was the government that published data about the wages of Neeme Järvi as another example of class hatred. Our leaders should understand that this does not work. It’s a blow below the belt and is not working. In their thinking they are in the past and you cannot do things like that in the 21st century,” said Taliga.