Finland’s air traffic will cease on 1–2 February, JHL is intensely involved in the strike

The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL and other trade unions will stop Finland’s commercial air traffic on 1–2 February. The JHL members working for Finavia or Airpro will be on strike. The strike applies to work shifts that start between 12.01 am on Thursday 1 February 2024 and 11.59 pm on Friday 2 February 2024.

The strike will affect the operations of Finavia airports, aside from Halli and Utti airports, meaning that all of Finland’s large airports will be involved in the strike. A list of the strike locations is at the end of the press release. Work tasks that must be performed in order to protect people's life, health or property are ruled out of the industrial action.

Trade Union JHL must resort to heavy industrial action because the Government is still pushing for serious weakenings to the position of employees. After serious consideration, JHL decided to join the strike action, the union’s Interim President Håkan Ekström says.

– The strike is a political industrial action, and it is not targeted against employers. I understand that the strike causes difficulties and trouble to many passengers. However, we have no other choice than to take even tougher strike action. The Government’s dictation will drive the Finnish labour market to the wall. One should seek after extensive solutions to the situation by negotiating.

The strike is a part of central organisation SAK’s Serious Grounds campaign. The campaign opposes the Government’s unfair policy.  The Government has already decided about several social security cuts. During the spring, the Finnish Parliament will start to consider a number of legislative proposals that will weaken the basic rights of employees.

During autumn and early winter 2023, Trade Union JHL organised several political strikes. The trade union is still ready to take further measures if the Government is unwilling to negotiate.

– The Government is intending to diminish employee security, weaken the applicability of collective agreements and limit employees’ right to strike. The Government Programme’s goals have been copied almost word for word from the industry's elections goals. We can’t simply stand by and watch as our members are being robbed off the means of defending proper terms and conditions of employment, Ekström highlights.

More information:
Interim President Håkan Ekström 040 828 2865

The work tasks and workplaces subject to the political industrial action: (Finavia and Airpro)

• Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
• Turku Airport
• Kittilä Airport
• Ivalo Airport
• Kemi-Tornio Airport
• Oulu Airport
• Kuusamo Airport
• Kajaani Airport
• Vaasa Airport
• Kokkola-Pietarsaari Airport
• Pori Airport
• Joensuu Airport
• Savonlinna Airport
• Maarianhamina Airport

Limitations at following airports by request of the Finnish Defence Forces: (Finavia and Airpro)

• Rovaniemi Airport
• Pirkkala Airport
• Jyväskylä Airport
• Kuopio Airport