Expanded bus strike leads to suspension of incomes talks

Stoppage spreads to harbours and chemical transport

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The Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK) said on Wednesday that it would suspend the current round of incomes talks as long as the present strike by transport workers continues.
      The stoppage, which began as a strike by bus drivers in the Helsinki region, later spread to five cities around Finland. On Wednesday morning workers at the Port of Helsinki stopped loading and unloading ships. The Transport Workers' Union (AKT) also stopped chemical transport by the ADR-Haanpää company.
      The Director-General of EK, Leif Fagernäs, said on a morning television programme on Wednesday that his organisation has suspended the ongoing incomes talks over what he sees as the illegal industrial action by the transport workers. However, both Fagernäs and Lauri Ihalainen, chairman of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), said that the strike does not mean an end to the negotiating process.
      On Tuesday Fagernäs said that the actions of AKT indicate total indifference toward the system of justice. He also warned that if the incomes talks are to stay on schedule, the strike should not last much beyond Wednesday.
      The employers’ organisation of the transport branch has refused, as a matter of principle, to negotiate over an illegal strike.
      Lauri Ihalainen reiterated his calls to both sides of the dispute to negotiate.
      "I feel that it is extremely important for there to be humility on both sides", he said.
     
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) emphasised that the strike should end if there is to be a broad-based incomes agreement. He also said that the government has no plans to intervene in the dispute.
      The expansion of the strike to include harbours and chemicals transports is expected to have knock-on effects on Finland’s vital pulp and paper industry.
      Finnish grocery stores could face shortages of imported produce. Passenger traffic at Finnish harbours would not be affected.
     
The strikers do not have the unanimous support of Finland’s trade unions. Erkki Vuorenmaa, chairman of the Finnish Metalworkers’ Union, has called on AKT to halt the action.
      Vuorenmaa said in Helsinki on Wednesday that the stalemate that has led to the suspension of the incomes talks should be resolved as soon as possible.
      He added that now is a good chance to test the veracity of what the employers have said by suspending the strikes and returning to the negotiating table.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Workers to expand bus strike; Port of Helsinki cargo operations under threat (16.11.2004)
  SAK leader Ihalainen fails to open negotiations on bus strike (15.11.2004)
  Bus strike spreads to local traffic in five cities outside Helsinki region (12.11.2003)
  Labour Court finds bus strike illegal; stoppage set to expand on Friday (11.11.2004)

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