Finnair’s logo at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Vantaa. LEHTIKUVA
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Finnair will cancel 70 flights on Thursday 27 March as Finnish transport unions stage a political strike during the airline’s annual general meeting. Around 6,500 passengers will be affected.
The Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) and the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) announced the two-hour strike in protest against the government’s ownership policies, specifically plans to raise board member compensation at the state-owned airline.
The strike is set to take place from 14:00 to 16:00, coinciding with Finnair’s AGM in Vantaa, which begins at 15:00. The disruption will affect services at Helsinki Airport, including check-in, baggage handling, and ground operations.
According to the unions, the protest is political in nature and does not target collective bargaining outcomes or employer-specific contracts. The AKT said the proposed increases in board remuneration—between 30 and 45 percent over two years—were unacceptable given the state’s role as Finnair’s majority shareholder.
Finnair’s Chief Operating Officer Jaakko Schildt described the action as disproportionate. “We are doing everything we can to offer suitable reroutes for everyone,” Schildt said in a statement.
Affected customers have been notified and offered alternative routing options or refunds. Finnair has urged all passengers travelling on 27 March to check in early, monitor flight updates, and carry essential items in hand luggage.
Finnair advised customers to use the airline’s mobile app or Manage Booking service to follow the latest information regarding changes and rebooking.
The airline has been in prolonged collective bargaining talks with its pilots for more than six months. Negotiations have included involvement from the National Conciliator’s office, as well as overtime bans and other industrial action. The employers’ group Palta suggested that the unions may be using the political protest to exert pressure on the current bargaining process.
Finnair has reported improved financial performance in recent months, but the airline said earlier that pilot-led industrial actions had negatively affected its results.
The Finnish state owns over 55 percent of Finnair. Proposed board compensation increases include a hike in the chair’s annual remuneration from €61,200 to €88,000.
Thursday’s walkout will be the latest in a series of politically motivated labour protests in Finland, where unions have increasingly voiced opposition to state policy changes through targeted industrial actions.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
