Bus strike spreads to local traffic in five cities outside Helsinki region

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From early this morning, Friday, the partial bus strike which began in the Greater Helsinki area on Tuesday has spread to include local bus operators in five other cities: Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Oulu, and Pori. The majority of buses in these cities never got out of the depots this morning, and those restricted services that are available are being manned by non-union staff and management.
      Following a decision on Thursday by the Finnish Road Transport Workers' Union (AKT), what began as a strike affecting three bus companies in the capital area (Concordia Finland, Connex Espoo, and Connex Vantaa) has now expanded to include five other members of the employers' organisation ALT, the Road Transport Employers' Union.
      The AKT Chairman Timo Räty commented on Thursday that the companies concerned all observe the same collective bargaining agreements signed by ALT members, and that the action was a means of spurring the ALT managing director Hannu Parvela to begin negotiations over the initial causes of the dispute.
      Thus far there have been no discussions between the two sides, with ALT declaring the strike to be illegal, a view shared by the Labour Court.
     
The striking drivers in the capital region accuse Concordia, Connex, and the employers' union of making working hour arrangements that best suit part-time drivers and those with short-term contracts.
      The shop stewards at the companies concerned feel that drivers with permanent, full-time positions should have priority.
     
In other developments on Thursday, ALT filed a second suit in the Labour Court, charging that the employees remained in breach of commitments to preserve industrial peace that are covered by the collective bargaining deal.
      On Wednesday the court found against AKT and the drivers' associations at Connex and Concordia, fining them EUR 20,000. This did nothing to dampen the drivers' enthusiasm for the action. A second ruling is expected on Friday afternoon.
      Timo Räty noted on Thursday that the drivers were determined the strike action would continue until the employers agreed to sit down and negotiate, something the employees' side claim they have sought in vain for over a year.
     
A few more buses were in circulation on Thursday than the previous day in the Helsinki region. Roughly one-third of departures could be run. In the case of Concordia in particular, a couple of dozen drivers who have opted out of the strike reported for duty along with management and supervisors.
      The aim has been to concentrate the limited resources on routes where there is little or no alternative to the bus, for example in parts of southern Espoo, western districts of Vantaa, and on routes to and from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport.
     
In the other cities now affected, the loss of bus services will bring problems for tens of thousands of commuters.
      The local lines - Jyväskylän Liikenne, Kuopion Liikenne, Lahden Liikenne, Koskilinjat in Oulu, and Porin Linjat - have around 120 routes between them, with something like 6,000 departures on weekdays.
      As in the Greater Helsinki region, some routes will be operated by non-union staff and passengers may be able to find alternative buses run by companies that are not a party to the current dispute.
     
Commuters and others in the Metropolitan Area can find out which buses are running and which are not by consulting the YTV bulletin linked below. There is also a link on this page to a modified journey planner.
      The industrial action does not affect trams, local commuter trains or the Metro, and the Helsinki City Transport buses are also running as normal.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Labour Court finds bus strike illegal; stoppage set to expand on Friday (11.11.2004)
  Bus companies managed to run some departures on strikebound lines; dispute continues (10.11.2004)

Links:
  Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV)

Helsingin Sanomat