Transport strike continues, mediation effort rejected Sunday night

National Conciliator's last-ditch effort fails

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The Finnish Transport Workers' Union (AKT) toppled last-minute efforts late Friday evening to bring a quick stop to a bus and lorry-drivers' strike that had begun at 18:00. AKT also rejected a mediation proposal put forward by National Conciliator Juhani Salonius.
      After the strike began there were still talks aimed at suspending the action and postponing it until later.
      Salonius also made two unexpected mediation proposals on Sunday afternoon, just a few hours before the strike was to begin. In addition to a proposal for a settlement, he put forward a proposal to postpone the action.
      The AKT executive decided at 23:00 to reject Salonius' proposal to postpone the strike. According to AKT president Timo Räty, the union also rejected the whole mediation proposal, which it sees as having been even worse for drivers of scheduled bus services than the present labour contract.
     
The two sides are to meet on Wednesday for more talks.
      Räty predicts that the strike will last for a long time. "Once the labour dispute has started, it will probably last for at least a week."
      When the strike began at six PM on Sunday, lorries stopped operating and buses returned to their depots, as pickets appeared at the gates of transport companies.
      In harbours, pickets made sure that subcontractors did not carry goods for companies that are targeted by the action.
     
In the Helsinki region, morning traffic was heavier than usual, although major problems were averted, as commuters used their own cars to drive to work, as bus lines operated by private companies were affected by the strike.
      Buses that are part of Helsinki City Transport are operated by a number of different companies. Many bus lines are not affected by the action.
      Helsinki bus lines not affected by the transport workers' strike are: 11, 13, 14, 14B, 16, 18, 20, 20N, 21V, 22, 23, 23N, 24, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46T, 47, 54, 55, 55A, 57, 62, 63, 65A, 65N, 66, 66A, 67, 67X, 68, 69, 70, 70T, 70V, 71, 71V, 74, 74N, 78, 79, 80, 80A, 80N, 81, 83, 84, 85, 85N, 85V, 86, 86B, 86N, 87, 88, 90, 90A, 90B, 90N, 91, 92, 92N, 93, 93B, 93N, 94, 94A, 94B, 94N, 94V, 95, 95N, 96, 96V, 97, 97N and 98V.
      Buses 52A, 53, 75 and 77 are partially affected by the action.
      In Espoo, buses 3, 5, 16, 20, 26, 52, 57, 61 and 81 will continue to operate. A number of bus lines that are affected by the strike will operate partially with management personnel filling in for the drivers.
      Regional bus services that are continuing to operate include lines 102, 103, 105, 111, 120, 121, 122, 194, 195, 206, 210N, 212, 213, 220N, 248, 315, 321, 324, 345, 452, 453, 500T, 505, 509, 510, 512, 518, 522, 550, 611, 730, 732, 734, 740, 741 and 742.
      Commuter trains, the Helsinki Metro, and city trams will also operate normally.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Massive road transport strike to begin on Sunday (3.3.2006)

Links:
  Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council web site: Bus strike going on

Helsingin Sanomat