Industrial Union starts another 5-day strike

The Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) has started another five-day strike from early Monday night in the third phase of its agitation programme to press home various demands including pay hike and contract solutions for the technology and chemical industry workers.

The union in a statement on Sunday said it has unanimously rejected the proposal for collective bargaining agreement given by the mediator as it was not enough to fulfil the demands of the union.

It also said that the pre-announced five-day strike will be observed from early hour of Monday.

The third phase strike will be enforced at 60 businesses in the technology and chemical industries. The businesses employ about 8,000 people.

Meanwhile, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Electrical Workers’ Union, the Construction Trade Union and Service Union United PAM already extended support to the strike called by the Industrial Union.

The Industrial Union has previously announced that its goal for the collective agreement negotiations is to secure a 10% pay rise for workers.

This figure is needed to boost workers’ purchasing power in a climate where the cost of living has risen sharply in the last couple of years.

Earlier the union observed a six-day strike in the first phase from January 27 to February 1 and another six-day strike in the second phase from February 3 to February 8 to press home its demands.