Helsinki: A planned strike by a number of unions in support of the nation’s icebreaking crews that threatened to paralyse much of Finland’s maritime transport has been called off at the last moment. The industrial action, which was due to start on Thursday, and would have caused much anguish for Easter holidaymakers, was ditched as icebreaker crews hammered out a deal with their employers.
Kenneth Bengts from the Finish Seafarers Union told Splash an agreement had been brokered.
It brings to an end months of negotiations over the icebreaker crews’ terms and conditions. Unions had wanted guarantees that the collective agreements were generally binding on all companies in the sector.
Maritime unions were prepared to shut all Finnish ports if no deal was reached, shutting down cargo and passenger transport from 14.00hrs on Thursday.
State-backed icebreaker company Arctia Shipping has been negotiating with its crew members since last year without a settlement.
