Transport strikes cost millions of euros - drivers return to work

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The total costs of the recent bus strike and related support work stoppages are estimated in the millions of euros. The bus companies that were the original victims of the strike were not the worst hit.
      Drivers of the Connex and Concordia bus companies came back to work in droves on Monday after a settlement was reached in a strike that spread from their buses in the Helsinki region to local commuter services in a number of other cities.
      Sympathy strikes by harbour workers and tank lorry drivers also ended, and threatened industrial action that would have affected rail services and airport ground services was cancelled.
      Connex estimates that it lost between EUR 300,000 and 400,000 in the strike which lasted for nearly two weeks.
     
The strike began on Tuesday November 9, affecting Connex and Concordia buses operating in the Helsinki region. Concordia gets EUR 170,000 a day for running the lines under contract with municipal transport authorities.
      The company estimated its losses at about EUR 100,000 a day, as it was able to operate about one third of its bus routes in spite of the stoppage. The company also saved money because it did not have to pay the personnel costs of the striking drivers.
     
The spread of the strike to the Port of Helsinki, and to chemicals transports of ADR-Haanpää, added to the overall costs.
      Hans Martin, CEO of the harbour operator Finnsteve, estimates the losses of his company at roughly one million euros.
      Martin believes that the customers probably have suffered even greater losses.
      The Port of Helsinki estimates its losses of recent days at between EUR 200,000 and 250,000 in lost revenue from ships that docked elsewhere.
      Expenses were also incurred from cranes that were left idle.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Transport strike over - normal traffic expected by Wednesday (22.11.2004)
  UPDATE: Settlement reached in transport strike Sunday evening (19.11.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat