Industrial action by postal workers expected to slow, but not stop mail delivery

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The Finnish Post and Logistics Union (PAU) announced plans for a six-hour work stoppage on Wednesday this week.
      Announcing the industrial action on Monday, PAU chairman Esa Vinkula said that there will be very little mail distributed on Thursday, and much more on Friday.
     
The union had threatened more severe action, which might have led to a complete shutdown of postal deliveries. However, in negotiations during the weekend, the union reached agreement with the management side, Itella, on terms for necessary cutbacks of personnel.
      Vilkuna emphasised that the target of the stoppage was not Itella, which operates Finland’s postal service, but the company’s owner - the Finnish state.
     
The agreement reached during the weekend provides for longer periods for consultations with personnel on job cuts, as well as compensation for the costs of relocating to postal jobs in other parts of the country.
      However, the package makes it significantly more difficult to take early retirement. As Vilkuna sees it, state-owned companies have been making it harder to take the retirement route, ever since the government failed in its previous attempts at raising the retirement age.
      “I have nothing in black and white, but the government or some other parties have clearly decided that the "retirement pipeline" should not be used any more.”
     
Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies (Nat. Coalition Party), who is also responsible for matters related to state-owned companies, sharply denies any pressure to preclude early retirement. However, he did concede that recommendations were made against implementing unemployment pensions while debate on calls to raise the retirement age are still going on.
      The agreement that was reached during the weekend nevertheless requires money, which would have to be provided by the state, which is the owner of Itella.
      Union leader Vilkuna says that in the current situation, Itella needs to cut back on its requirements concerning Itella’s profit margin. Last year Itella generated EUR 10 million for its owner, and in 2007, nearly EUR 30 million.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Government backs down on plans to raise retirement age (11.3.2009)
  Gallup: Two in three Finns demand cancelling government decision on old-age pensions (9.3.2008)
  Poll: rise in retirement age sparks anger, but is no surprise (6.3.2009)
  Government decides on gradual raising of minimum age for old-age pension to 65 (25.2.2009)

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