Wednesday November 27, 2024

Bus services to disrupt as AKT starts 2nd round strike

Published : 01 Mar 2023, 03:05

Updated : 01 Mar 2023, 03:09

  DF Report
DF File Photo.

Bus services will be disrupted at many parts of the country as the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (Auto- ja Kuljetusalan Työntekijäliitto- AKT) started its second-round strike early Wednesday.

The strike has begun at 3:00am. and scheduled to continue until March 10 at 3:00 am.

The AKT decided to go for the strike as the negotiations between the union and their employers ended on Tuesday without any fruitful result, said the AKT in a press release late Tuesday night.

The union, however, called off the strike at the heavy goods vehicle sector following negotiation with the employers on Tuesday evening. The strike was also scheduled to start on Wednesday.

The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne – HSL) said that bus drivers’ strike will significantly affect bus services in the Helsinki region.

Services operated by Tammelundin Liikenne Oy, Åbergin Linja Oy, Taksikuljetus Oy, Nurmijärven Linja Oy, V-S Bussipalvelut Oy, Harri Vuolle Oy, Bus Travel Oy Reissu Ruoti and Tilausliikenne Nikkanen, however, will remain normal during the strike.

These services account for less than 10 percent of all bus services. On other bus routes, services will be partially or completely suspended.

Metro, tram and commuter trains will mostly run as usual when the bus strike starts, said HSL.

However, a ban on overtime and shift swaps for railway staff will take effect on Wednesday, which may cause cancellations.

The Railway Union of Finland has also issued a strike notice. If negotiations fail and an agreement cannot be reached, the strike will begin on 6 March at 0.01am and end on 10 March at 11.59pm.

Another strike has been announced for 13–17 March.

The Finnish Post and Logistics Union PAU has once again announced support measures that aim to support AKT’s industrial action measures in the trucking sector. PAU’s support measures concern the handling of freight in terminals from Wednesday 3:00 a.m. to March 8 at 3:00 a.m.

National postal and logistic services operator Posti on Tuesday in a press release said that as a large domestic player in logistics, Posti is again facing industrial action measures that cause inconvenience to its customers.

The biggest impact of the strike will be on freight deliveries, which may be delayed some days. parcels and paper mail are impacted less, with local delays being possible. Early-morning newspapers will be delivered normally during the strike, with small local delays being possible.

Earlier, normalcy in the postal and logistic services restored on February 22 after a weeklong strike.

The AKT has started a tougher strike on February 15 demanding solution to collective agreement disputes.

The ongoing strike also affected various sectors including flight operations, postal delivery, waste and fuel transportation etc.