Strikes suspend daycare, public transport services

Majority of the daycare services in the capital region will remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday while the public transport operations will continue to be disrupted following strikes called by different trade unions.

The unions are observing the strikes protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition undertaken by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) led four-party alliance government.

The strikes will cause the closure of the majority of daycare centres in the Helsinki metropolitan area on February 13 and 14, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Monday.

Family daycare, group family daycare and pre-primary instruction arranged in school premises will also remain closed.

Meanwhile, the rail communication will remain suspended across the country on Tuesday for the second consecutive day as the Railway Union Association (Rautatiealan Unioni Ry-RAU) is observing a strike from Monday, said RAU, VR and HSL.

The strikes will also halt tram and metro traffic in the capital region on Wednesday and Thursday while the bus service will be partially disrupted.

The strike will have a significant effect on the organisation of early childhood education, pre-primary education, playground operations and family house activities in Helsinki on Tuesday and Wednesday, said the city on Monday.

Family daycare at home, group family daycare and pre-primary education arranged in school premises will likewise not be organized on the days of the strike. Transportation to early education and pre-primary education locations will not be organised for safety reasons.

The city, however, is trying to keep some of its daycare centres open despite the strike and about 60 locations will remain operational.

All of the city’s public playgrounds and family houses will be closed on the two days of the strike. Playground activities such as open early childhood education, clubs, afternoon activities for primary school students and playgrounds’ indoor areas will stay closed, but it still will be possible to enjoy self-directed play in the playground’s outdoor areas.

The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne- HSL) said that commuter trains remained suspended from Monday due to the strike. There may be changes in traffic also on Tuesday.

The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL has announced a tram and metro strike and the Finnish Transport Workers' Union has announced a bus strike for Wednesday and Thursday. Commuter trains and the ferries to Suomenlinna and Kruunuvuorenranta will run as normal.

Meanwhile, national railway operator VR on Monday said that for safety reasons related to track damage, long-distance trains will not run on Tuesday, including all long distance day and night trains.

Rail communication remains suspended across the country as announced to go for a strike from Monday to Tuesday.

Earlier, the Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) on February 2, announced a large-scale political strikes targeting several industrial sectors from February 14 to February 16 protesting against the cuts in employee rights and social welfare undertaken by the government.

Rail, road and air traffics remained suspended and normal activities in various service sectors including daycares, factories and groceries were hampered as different trade unions observed a 48-hour strike across the country from February 1.