Helsingin Sanomat is among the papers reminding readers that the national economy and daily life will be severely hit by tens of thousands of employees walking off the job this week.
Trade unions are taking industrial action to protest against revisions to labour market legislation and social security cuts already in the pipeline as part of the programme of Petteri Orpo's (NCP) government.
The action now starting is one of the largest political strikes in Finnish history.
A particular feature of this wave of strikes, the paper notes, is that it includes a large number of unions representing highly educated white-collar workers.
The majority of the strikes have been called by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK. Their member unions do not accept the changes to the law planned by the government, because they believe that the government's measures increase inequality in society, weaken the position of workers and hit lower income groups and the unemployed in particular.
Different unions have different positions on which government measures they are most opposed to.
The SAK and STTK unions oppose, among other things, restrictions on the right to strike, the plan to suspend pay for the first day of sick leave and cuts to unemployment benefits. They especially object to measures which they view as attacks on low-income earners and the trade union movement.
Unions have have slightly different ambitions about what they want to achieve with the strikes, but Helsingin Sanomat points out that their common goal is to get the government to negotiate seriously with labour market organisations on any cuts.
Five questions
Helsingin Sanomat also looks at five practical questions about the strikes from the employees' perspective.
Do you have to go on strike?
There is no obligation to go on strike. It is up to everyone to decide whether to take part or not.
However, trade unions expect both their members and other workers to take part. At some workplaces, employees who show up to work will be met with picketers attempting to talk them into joining in.
Do you have to tell your employer if you are going on strike?
Employees do not have to inform their employer if they intend to take part in a strike.
Can the employer ask if you intend to go on strike?
Employers are allowed to ask employees whether they intend to go on strike. Some employers do this to find out in advance whether they will be able to operate on the day of the strike. An employer may not put pressure on anyone to come to work during a strike.
Will wages be paid during the strike?
The employer does not have to pay wages during the strike.
Trade unions pay strike allowances to their members who take part in the strike. The amount allowance varies from union to union.
For example, the Industrial Union and Trade Union Pro are paying a gross strike allowance of 100 euros per working day to members on strike. The teachers' union OAJ will pay a strike allowance of 180 euros per working day to early childhood education employees.
How can you walk off the job if you're telecommuting?
As HS points out, marching out of the workplace is a fairly straightforward concept, but how are you supposed to walk off the job if you're working from home?
The Professionals of Business and Technology union has have given their members a simple answer to that one – "Turn off your work computer".
Heavy losses
Economic and business daily Kauppalehti reports that the impact of this week's strikes on the national economy and on exports will be magnified by their wide-ranging effect on industry and the transport and logistics sector, including ports.
It writes that the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK estimates that the direct and indirect effects of Thursday's and Friday's strikes will result in a total loss of around €360 million in GDP.
The strikes will affect businesses in very different ways. Some of the biggest losses will be incurred by the oil refining and marketing company Neste.
Henri Parkkinen, senior analyst at the OP Group, estimates that the loss of earnings caused at a strike at Neste's oil refinery in Porvoo on 1-2 February will be will be between 3 million and 5 million euros per day.
A million votes up for grabs
Savon Sanomat is among the morning papers carrying an STT news agency feature about the large number of voters who will have to choose a new presidential candidate after their favourite lost out in the first round of the election on Sunday.
There are more than a million voters across Finland who cast ballots for Jussi Halla-aho (Finns), who came third, or Olli Rehn (Centre/independent), who came in fourth.
The largest number of voters whose favourite lost out is in the voting district of Uusimaa – over 166,000. More than 100,000 potential votes are also up for grabs in Oulu, Pirkanmaa, Vaasa and Southeast Finland.
Interviewed by STT, regional Finns Party and the Centre Party leaders said that they expect their ranks to shift support to both the National Coalition Party's Alexander Stubb and the Greens' Pekka Haavisto who is running as a voters' association candidate. However, none endorsed a candidate, saying the their members will make their own choice.
Jari Immonen, chair of the Finns Party's Uusimaa district told STT that he estimates that Stubb could get 60 percent and Haavisto 30 percent of the votes cast for Halla-aho in the first round. He expects the rest to abstain.
Tuomo Suihkonen, the head of the Centre Party's Uusimaa district, was unable to say which of the candidates is the stronger favourite among his party's voters.
There are likely to be regional variations in support, however.
Centre Party leaders in North Savo and North Karelia expect both candidates to get votes, but they do not believe that Centre voters will automatically cast their ballots for Stubb, as Haavisto also has strong support. The way the candidates talk about eastern Finland, its economy and security will matter a lot, they say.
"Strong and resolute"
Iltalehti reports a telephone conversation on Wednesday between Finland's President Sauli Niinistö and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.
In a posting on the messaging platform X after the call, Zelenskyy publicly thanked Niinistö for his personal contribution to Finland's support for Ukraine.
"This support includes two dozen military assistance packages and Finland's strong support to Ukraine with NATO integration and in strengthening international support," Zelenskyy continued.
In addition, Zelenskyy said he is confident that cooperation will continue to be fruitful with the next President of the Republic of Finland.
Niinistö, whose term of office ends on 1 March, thanked Zelenskyy in return for their conversation and wrote, "Finland’s support for Ukraine remains strong and resolute."
Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here.
