Cancellation of Finnair flights likely as ATK warns of strike

The Transport Workers’ Union (Auto- ja Kuljetusalan Työntekijäliitto) AKT together with the service sector employers' group Palta concerning Finnair cabin crew on Monday warned to go for strike from 22 February to 8, said the ATK in a press release.

The proposed strike during the ski holidays may force the national flag carrier Finnair to cancel flights and the airline urged for an amicable solution to avoid the strike, said Finnair in a press release.

"The situation is unfortunate, and the AKT regrets the inconvenience to passengers. However, the cuts in pay and working conditions required by Finnair are so unreasonable that they cannot be accepted. We have no choice but to defend the members through a labour movement," AKT President Ismo Kokko said in the press release.

Kokko also hoped that an agreement will be taken place by this time to avoid the strike.

The AKT, a partner of the blue-collar federation SAK, has about 45,000 members. The union also extended its support to the ongoing strike of the Finnish Paperworkers’ Union at the mills of the forest-based industry company UPM.

The collective agreement for cabin crew expired on 31 January and unfortunately no agreement has been reached despite collective bargaining since December, said Finnair in a press release.

"We hope that a solution will be found in future though a conciliation process to avoid a strike," said Jaakko Schildt, Finnair's Chief Operating Officer.