Public sector strike may disrupt weather services across Finland

By admin On Apr 7, 2025

Snow falling in Esplanadi Park, Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA

Unions representing Finnish state employees have issued a second strike warning, threatening to halt critical weather, maritime, and climate services later this month if no agreement on wage increases is reached.

The planned industrial action, scheduled from 22 to 24 April, covers 76,000 public sector workers.

It would affect key government bodies including the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Eastern Uusimaa and Southeast Finland police departments, the customs postal unit at Helsinki Airport, and IT services at Valtori in Rovaniemi.

The strike warning was issued jointly by the Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals (JUKO), the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), and Trade Union Pro.

At the FMI, the strike would significantly disrupt the production of weather and maritime forecasts, warnings for hazardous conditions, climate data services, and operational support for agencies including the Finnish Defence Forces.

“This would have really extensive impacts,” said Marko Viljanen, Director of Administration at the FMI. “Forecasts and warnings for hazardous weather phenomena, road and sea conditions, and public safety could be affected.”

According to Viljanen, the national weather and marine forecasts would not be available to the public during the strike. More seriously, warnings about dangerous conditions could also be delayed or cancelled.

“This is above all a serious matter concerning events that pose threats to safety,” he said.

While the unions have said the strike will avoid tasks that directly affect safety or health, Viljanen stressed that the extent of the disruption could be severe. He expressed hope that negotiations would lead to an agreement or, if not, that essential services could still be maintained.

“If the strike goes ahead, we will try to find a way to keep at least some level of warning system functioning,” Viljanen added.

The strike warning follows a breakdown in pay negotiations that began in January. State workers are demanding a 7.8 percent increase over three years, in line with the general wage benchmark established in recent private sector agreements. The employer, the State Employer’s Office (VTML), has so far offered 6.3 percent.

With the dispute now in mediation, the unions are using the strike warning as leverage to push for a better offer.

If no resolution is reached, the strike would mark a rare escalation in industrial action within the Finnish public sector, and the first in recent memory to threaten nationwide weather and safety-related services.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi