Politically motivated strikes are widespread, particularly in the industry and transport sectors.
Finland’s wave of trade union strikes expanded significantly on Wednesday, extending to more labor groups, including the Electrical Workers’ Union, the Industrial Workers’ Union and the Transport Workers’ Union.
The political strike is a series of trade union actions to protest government labor market policies and social welfare cuts.
transport hit
On Wednesday, bus drivers and maintenance staff from the Transport Workers’ Union began a strike that will last until Thursday.
The strike halted most local and long-distance bus services.
Public transport was also hit by the Public Welfare Workers’ Union (JHL) strike, which halted almost all local services in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere.
However, some local services continued to operate on Wednesday.
Juha-Pekka HeirinenNisse, head of planning at Tampere’s regional public transport agency, said that despite the strike, around 18% of bus services would continue to operate. Several separate tram services also operate in Tampere.
“These strikes have been repeated so often that it has become felt that it is in everyone’s interest to keep the tram cars running,” Heirinen said.
Commuter trains and some buses also operate in the metropolitan area.
A strike by transport unions, including longshoremen, also effectively shut down the country’s ports.
taxis are crowded
Managing Director of Taxi Tampere; Tero Kallio He said the morning had so far been busier for taxi drivers than during a similar strike two weeks ago.
“The number of pre-bookings in the morning is expected to be 10 times the normal number. So many, in fact, that it is impossible to avoid all the disruption,” he told Ale.
Kallio estimated that the number of reservations for the entire day would be double the normal number.
No impact on power generation
A work stoppage has been staged at the Lovisa nuclear power plant by the electrical workers’ union.
Alto ParkinThe head of network operator Fingrid’s main control center said the work stoppage itself would not affect electricity production.
With high levels of wind generation, Wednesday’s closure is unlikely to hurt consumers’ wallets, Parkin added.
Other power companies run by Kuopio Energia, Enersense and Helene and staffed by union workers under JHL are also affected by the strike.
tens of thousands of people lost their jobs
Approximately 10,000 members of the Service Union United (PAM) union are on strike, with retail trade distribution centers at a standstill. The Finnish Business Federation estimates that stores will not run out of food during the strike, but the selection of items available may be more limited than usual.
The industrial union’s three-day strike involves 60,000 workers and more than 700 workplaces.
Members of the Finnish Construction Workers’ Union, Paper Workers’ Union and Professional White Collar Workers’ Union are also taking part in the strike.
The Social and Health Workers’ Union (Tehy), the Practical Nurses’ Union (SuPer) and the Public and Welfare Sector Union (JHL) continued their strike in early childhood education and childcare services on Wednesday.
Members of the Finnish Food Workers Union are also out on this day.
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