Bus strike planned in Helsinki metropolitan area for Tuesday

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A bus strike involving three bus operators and about 1,300 drivers is threatening to hamper or paralyse commuter traffic in the Helsinki metropolitan area on Tuesday. The drivers and bus operators Concordia Bus Finland, Connex Espoo, and Connex Vantaa did not begin any negotiations on the dispute in the course of the weekend.
     
The workers blame the employers for their efforts to change permanent full-time jobs, which are based on the collective labour agreements, into various temporary and part-time positions.
      According to Ilkka Loimusto, the head of Connex Finland, the drivers’ demands are so unreasonable and the whole situation is so warped that there is simply nothing to be discussed.
      ”The bus operators do not intend to change any terms and conditions of employment. If somebody wishes to work only part-time, or to have a temporary agreement, it suits us. On the other hand, those who wish to work full-time can do so”, said Loimusto on Sunday.
     
Hannu Parvela, Director General of the Road Transportation Employers’ Association, stated that the strike is illegal, and that the Finnish Transport Workers' Union simply wishes to alter the terms of their valid collective labour agreement. Therefore, the Employers’ Association intends to take the FTWU to the Labour Court on Monday.
     
Connex Vantaa shop steward Jori Kopra stated on Sunday that the dispute has been brewing since last summer, and the drivers have tried to negotiate the situation with the employers without any results. Now they are expecting a move from the employers.
      The most recent meeting was held on Thursday of last week.
      The latest stoppage of public transport in the capital region was in September, when the bus transport staff of Helsinki City Transport (HKL) protested against the fusion of HKL’s bus services and Suomen Turistiauto (a City-owned company). HKL drivers are not involved in the present dispute.
     
In the event that the strike begins, it will affect the regional traffic considerably more seriously than HKL’s protest strike in September did, assumed a representative of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV).
      In Helsinki, the upcoming stoppage would hit the residents of the eastern suburbs particularly badly, including those coming from Suutarila, Puistola and Tapanila, as well as the bus lines between the Western Harbour (Länsisatama) and the city centre. Also the cross-town "horizontal" bus lines 51, 52, and 52A as well as the night traffic would be strike-bound.
      In Vantaa, the strike would stop the internal public transport traffic entirely. As for regional lines, the lines to and from the airport would be affected most.
      In Espoo, a possible strike would hit Leppävaara in particular, because the shuttle links between the buses and trains would be interrupted. As for regional bus lines, the lines that operate via the Helsinki-Hanko motorway would all be on strike. Locals would do well to check their own arrangements from the YTV link (in English).


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki drivers' strike to go before Labour Court (15.9.2004)

Links:
  YTV: Strike in public transport possible on Tuesday the 9th

Helsingin Sanomat