SKL calls strike in commercial shipping sector on March 9

The Finnish Engineers' Association (Suomen Konepäällystöliitto-SKL) on Friday announced to go for strike in commercial shipping sector on March 9, said a SKL press release.

The strike which also would affect the operations of icebreakers.

SKL said that negotiations with the Finnish Shipowners' Associated has failed to yield progress since the employer is demanding increase of foreign cheap labour to work in Finnish flagged vessels.

"We have made every effort to reach an agreement .Issuing of a strike warning was the last option. We defend domestic jobs and we cannot accept increase of mixed manpower," SKL executive director Robert Nyman said in the press release.

According to SKL, the shipowners' association has called for the raise of the mixed crew so that 75 percent of crew is foreign non-EU citizens.