UPDATE: Settlement reached in transport strike Sunday evening

Broad-based incomes talks resume

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The executive of the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) has unanimously approved a proposal to end the strike affecting commuter bus services run by the Connex and Concordia companies in the Helsinki region.
      The stoppage lasted nearly two weeks, and was sparked by employee objections of the heavy use of part time and fixed term drivers by the two companies. Initially the management side refused to negotiate in what it saw as illegal industrial action.
      The Finnish Labour Court agreed that the strikes violated labour market rules, and imposed several fines on the Transport Workers’ Union.
     
Before the settlement was reached, the strike had spread to a number of cities around Finland. Later it stopped most cargo handling in the Port of Helsinki and much of Finland’s cargo transport. On Friday AKT threatened to further expand the strike to the railways, and airport ground services.
      In Sunday’s settlement, the employers promise not to increase the number of part time drivers during the contract period which ends at the beginning of 2006.
      The two companies also promised to offer full time work to all drivers with permanent contracts. The strike led to the suspension of talks aimed at a broad-based incomes agreement. Those talks resume already Sunday evening.
     
The deadline for a broad-based incomes agreement was pushed back by the transport strike. The Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK) suspended the talks for the duration of the stoppage.
      Under the original schedule, the labour market confederations were to have ironed out an settlement by Monday morning. Now a possible agreement could come in the early part of the week at the earliest.
      If this succeeds, there will be a round of talks with individual unions which would take about two weeks.
      The government and Parliament have promised tax breaks if a contract is reached is Friday next week.
     
Trade union confederations were to have set their goals for pay demands on Friday. The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has decided to postpone the meeting of its executive until Sunday.
      Both SAK and EK have been involved in efforts to end the strike, which has spread from bus companies in the Helsinki region to other cities, and has now stopped cargo handling at the Port of Helsinki, as well as chemical transport by ADR Haanpää.
      However, the two main confederations have failed to persuade the Transport Workers’ Union or the employers’ side to meet at the same table.
     
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) promised during Parliamentary Question Time on Thursday that the services of the state would be available if they are needed to solve the problem.
      However, the Prime Minister emphasised that disputes over industrial peace should be resolved by the groups involved.
     
The Finnish Labour Court imposed a fourth fine on the Transport Workers’ Union on Thursday. The three previous fines were for the industrial action by the bus drivers. The latest fine was for the support strikes at Helsinki’s harbours and in chemical transport.
      AKT and its ten locals were ordered to pay a total of EUR 50,000 in compensation for what was seen as an illegal strike. So far the ongoing labour dispute has cost the union EUR 180,000 in fines.
     
Drivers of Helsinki City Transport (HKL) met Friday morning to discuss measures to support the bus strike.
      At the meeting, the bus, tram, and Metro drivers decided against any industrial action of their own. Instead, they agreed to offer financial support for the strikers.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki cargo harbours remain shut down by offshoot of bus strike (18.11.04)
  Expanded bus strike leads to suspension of incomes talks (17.11.2004)
  SAK leader Ihalainen fails to open negotiations on bus strike (15.11.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat