Rail service resumes on Friday as RAU´s strike withdrawn

Rail communication will be restored across the country on Friday as the (Rautatiealan Unioni Ry-RAU), representing locomotive drivers on Thursday decided to withdraw its indefinite term strike, said RAU and national railway operator VR in separate press releases.

RAU took the decision following a collective bargaining agreement with Service Sector Employers' group- Palta.

The agreement was reached till March 31, 2025 on pay hike of the locomotive drivers and working hours improvement and a better arrangement for parental leave.

According to VR, the locomotive drivers will resume work from the morning shift on Friday and it will take one day to restore normalcy in the movement of long-distance trains.

"We thank the negotiating parties and the mediator. It is good that that the agreement has finally been reached and our passengers can travel by train and the freight trains will start operation again,” said VR Human Resource Director Laura Ansaharju in a statement.

Rail communication remain suspended across the country from early Monday as the Railway Union Association (Rautatiealan Unioni Ry-RAU) representing locomotive drivers decided to start a strike for an indefinite period.

Earlier on March 14, the union warned to go for a strike from March 20 to March 31, if its demand for a collective bargaining agreement is not realized by this time.