Labour strike paralyses edu, day-care, culture services in 10 cities

Different trade unions at municipal sector started a weeklong strike at ten municipalities in the country on Tuesday resulting disruption in education, day-care, culture and other services.

Trade organisations- Julkisalan Koulutettujen Neuvottelujärjestö (Public Sector Collective Organisation)- JUKO, Julkisten ja hyvinvointialojen liitto (Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors)-JHL and Ammattiliitto Jyty (Federation of Public and Private Sector Employees) called the strike to press home their demands for settling down contract disputes with the employers regarding salary hike of the employees.

The strike started at 12:01 am in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kuopio, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Rovaniemi and will continue until 11.59 pm on 9 May, unless the issue is not resolved by this time, the organisations said.

A total of 81,000 workers across the country, including more than 22,000 teachers and 31,000 employees are involved in the strike only in the capital region.

Most of the city’s education and culture and leisure services will be suspended, and there may also be temporary changes to the city’s social and health services due to the strike, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Monday.

Originally, the strike was supposed to start in Helsinki Metropolitan Region on 19 April, but it was postponed this time following intervention of the Minister of Employment, said JHL in a press release.

The strike applies to general collective agreement for the municipal sector (KVTES), health and social services sector agreement (SOTE), teaching personnel (OVTES), hourly paid personnel (TTES), technical personnel (TS) etc.

Certain emergency services related to health and safety, however, were kept out of the strike.

The strike will have a significant impact on the organisation of all levels of education in Helsinki. This includes early childhood education, basic education, upper secondary schools, vocational education and adult education centre activities, said the City of Helsinki in the press release.

Families of affected clients and students will receive instructions on the provision of services arrangements during the strike.

Most of the day-care centres, adult education centres, museums, cultural centres, indoor sports facilities will remain closed from 3 May to 9 May due to the strike.