Strike to paralyse public transport services in Helsinki on Feb 2

Public transport services will remain suspended in the capital region on February 2 as different trade unions called a countrywide strike protesting against the labour market reforms and cuts in working condition undertaken by the four-party alliance government.

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 Helsingin seudun liikenne (Helsinki Regional Transport Authority)- HSL on Monday said that the strike will halt train, metro, tram and light rail services on February 2 February.

In addition, most of HSL bus services will not operate on February 2.

Commuter trains will not run on Friday 2 and services will resume on the early morning of Saturday.

Some bus routes, however, will operate as normal. Bus routes that will operate as normal on February 2 are: 16, 21, 21N, 22, 22B, 26, 54, 90, 90A, 90N, 94B, 96, 96N, 116, 117, 119, 137, 138, 148, 149, 167, 168, 169, 207, 229, 232, 241, 242, 313, 413, 433, 434, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 576, 583, 584, 603, 625, 701, 702, 704, 713, 719, 723, 801, 802, 805, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 839, 839K, 912-917, 919, 964, 965, 966, 967, 971, U191, U192, U193, U195, U999.

Earlier on Monday, national flag carrier Finnair estimated that about 550 flights will be cancelled on February 1 and February 2 due to the strike.

The Railway Union Associationtrade (Rautatiealan Unioni Ry-RAU) on January 26 decided to observe strike on February 2 expressing solidarity with the countrywide 48-hour strike called by different trade unions.

Flights operations also 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.

Public transport services will remain suspended and early childhood education (daycare) will remain closed in the capital region due to the strike.