Tram and metro workers in Helsinki are threatening a two-day strike next week unless the city reconsiders a plan to include HKL, the city’s transport authority.
President of the Tram and Metro Staff Association Petri Lillqvist in January called a plan to transform the municipal authority into a limited company "extreme measure".
The new company will initially be owned by the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa.
The Tram and Subway Staff Association says that unless the city orders a new proposal, it will start shutdown on Thursday and Friday 16-17. September.
"We really hope that the city’s employer understands the seriousness of the matter for the employees and all Helsinki residents. The last thing we want to do is cause inconvenience to our passengers. But this is a cry for distress on behalf of the traditional HKL, which we all share," said.
Tram and subway maintenance personnel took a 24-hour break last Tuesday to protest the establishment plan.
Helsinki City Council was supposed to consider the plan at its meeting last Monday, but left it on the table.
Last summer, more than half of HKL’s 1,200 employees signed a petition questioning the accession plan. Many have expressed concern about dissolving towards complete privatization, which they say would lead to poorer employment contracts, quality and security.
Source: The Nordic Page