News from Finland. Industrial strikes set to begin

An initial wave of strikes at Finnish heavy industry firms begins at midnight on Sunday. Contract talks broke off on Friday evening, with no more scheduled until Wednesday.

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Yle News 24.1. 15:09•Updated 24.1. 20:46

The Industrial Union said on Friday evening that strikes will begin in the chemical and heavy industrial sectors on Sunday night. If no agreement is reached, the first round of strikes will continue until the following Saturday evening, 1 February, affecting over 40 companies in almost 100 locations.

Earlier in the day, the union warned of a third wave of strikes that would last for five days, starting on 10 February. Including the latest announcements, threatened strikes would last for three weeks.

The Industrial Union has previously issued two strike warnings for six days of industrial action. The first strike begins on Monday, with the second following a week later on 3 February.

The walkouts are set to begin at midnight on Sunday since contract talks broke off on Friday evening. No more are scheduled until Wednesday.

The strike warnings are aimed at putting pressure on employers in long-drawn-out collective bargaining negotiations, which began last autumn.

"Regarding the technology industry workers' agreement alone, we have already met with the mediator 13 times," Industrial Union chair Riku Aalto said in a press release.

Negotiations deadlocked

Mediation of the dispute between the Industrial Union and the Technology Industry Employers association continued on Friday afternoon under the leadership of National Conciliator Anu Sajavaara.

However even then, the start of strikes seemed likely, as the parties said the negotiation situation was deadlocked.

Little progress has been reported lately in the talks. The views of employees and employers on wage increases are still far apart.

In December, the Industrial Union staged a series of shorter, 24-hour strikes in an effort to speed up negotiations.

The member unions of the main blue-collar labour federation SAK, led by the Industrial Union, are seeking 10-percent wage increases over the next two years to compensate for what they say is lost purchasing power. Employers reject that demand as unreasonable.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Pro, which represents white-collar workers, has also announced strikes targeting chemical and other industrial firms.

5 unions join support actions

So far, five trade unions have announced support measures for industrial strikes: the Service Union United PAM, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), the Electrical Workers’ Union, the Construction Trade Union and the Transport Workers' Union (AKT).

These moves will affect some of the companies targeted by the strike, including cargo handling and food services, for example.

The next strike wave would occur on 3-8 February, hitting over 50 companies in more than 200 locations. On 10 February, the job actions would expand to cover about 60 more companies at 120 sites.