Strike threatens to stop all trains in Finland next week

The Railway Union Finland (RAU) executive board decided on December 15 to go on a political strike.

The reason for the strike is opposition to the planned cuts to working life by Petteri Orpo’s (NCP) government. The cuts, according to the union, “will hit RAU members hard now and in the future.” “The government’s planned changes, such as the export-oriented labour market model, will ultimately undermine working life,” RAU notes, Finland Today reports.

The strike will take place on Thursday, December 14, unless, according to RAU, “the government opens the way for real negotiations on changes to the government program.”

“If the planned political strike goes ahead, local, long-distance and freight trains will not run on December 14. The possible political strike will also affect Friday’s train services if it goes ahead on Thursday,” the state-owned railway company, VR, noted in a statement.

The RAU represents train drivers, traffic controllers and some customer service staff in the rail sector.