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The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (FFC) has mapped the future challenges facing their members. This happened in conjunction with FFC's centenary in 2007. Matti Huttola is the FFC's head of labour and industry. He reckons unions are facing a change. The future strategy includes a rethink of unions' role where they would seek to influence social policies to a greater extent and to take part in the debate on renewal rather than sticking to the status quo.    

"We will become more active in this debate than before."

Sustainable development is part of the picture, but Mr Huttola thinks Finland for a long time to come will remain a country where economic growth is closely linked to energy intensive industry. The problem is that the industry becomes more and more efficient. It's contribution to the GNP has stayed at the same high level for the past couple of decades while the number of workers has been halved. 

"We have two different things to consider: where to create new jobs and where to create new industry."