«Travel Health No end in sight for Finnish port strikeNews about: Finland
HELSINKI, March 10, 2010 (AFP) - Finland's ports remained shut for the seventh consecutive day Wednesday as talks aimed at ending a stevedores' strike that has crippled the country's foreign trade continued, officials said. All of Finland's commercial ports ground to a halt last Thursday when some 3,000 dockers walked out following the collapse of negotiations for a collective labour deal by a March 4 deadline.
The Transport Workers Union (AKT) and the Finnish Port Operators Association resumed talks under the mediation of National Conciliator Esa Lonka Tuesday, with talks continuing late into the night, they said. No deal had been struck and the two sides continued negotiations Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for Lonka's office told AFP, adding it was impossible to say how long talks would last.
No end-date has been announced for the strike, which observers see as a blow to recession-hit and export-reliant Finland's economy and reputation. A separate walk-out by cargo handlers, planned to start Thursday morning, was meanwhile avoided when the parties to the dispute accepted Lonka's reconciliation proposal Wednesday, AKT said.
Source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Date: 10-Mar-2010 15:27:34 |
