Strike to also disrupt bus, daycare services

Public transport services will remain suspended and early childhood education (daycare) will remain closed in the capital region as different trade unions called a 48-hour strike from February 1 protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition undertaken by the four-party alliance government.

The Helsingin seudun liikenne (Helsinki Regional Transport Authority)- HSL on Thursday said that bus workers decided to join the strike as a result HSL bus services will not operate on February 2.

The HSL in a press release said that the information on whether other transport workers will be joining the strike was not available till Thursday but it will provide further information after getting details in this regard.

Meanwhile, early childhood education services will remain closed on January 31 to February 1 due to the strike.

The strike will affect Vantaa's daycare centers, said the City of Vantaa in a press release on Thursday.

Of the trade unions participating in the political industrial action, include, among others, OAJ (The Trade Union of Education), JHL (The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors, Jyty (The Federation of Public and Private Sector Employees), SuPer (The Finnish Union of Practical Nurses), Talentia (Union of Professional Social Worker), and Tehy (The Union of Health and Social Care Services).

The strike is not targeted at the employer or the valid contract of employment: the reason for the walkout is the acts taken by the Finnish government.

If a child does not attend early childhood education on January 31 - February 1, the families are not charged for the days of absence.

The city authority, however, will try to keep some daycare centers open, to the extent possible.

The final number of employees available and open daycare centers will not be known until the morning of the strike. Directors of daycare centers will inform about the matter at a later stage.

Flights operations will remain suspended across the country on February 1 and 2 due to the strike.

Members of the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors- JHL working for Finavia or Airpro will observe the strike from 12.01 am on February 1 to 11.59 pm on February 2 resulting suspension of the flights operation.

JHL together with the service sector union -PAM, the Finnish Aviation Union- IAU, the Finnish Transport Workers' Union- AKT and the Finnish Airline Pilots' Association- SLL are observing the strike demanding stop of the government´s initiatives.

The strike will affect the operations of Finavia airports, aside from Halli and Utti airports, meaning that all of Finland’s large airports will be involved in the strike.

Emergency works, however, will be performed in order to protect people’s life, health or property.