News
The article is more than 13 years old

Strike warning from air traffic controllers

Air traffic controllers have given a strike warning, concerning members of their union at all sites operated by Finnish Civil Aviation Administration Finavia. If the action goes through, it will start on July 19 with strikes during peak hours at Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

lennonjohtotorni
Image: Juha-Pekka Inkinen / Yle

Negotiations on pay and conditions in the controllers’ collective agreement are the reason for the planned industrial action.

Finavia technical director Hannu Hervos told YLE that the talks will now continue with the help of the National Conciliator.

“There is no information on the schedule yet,” Hervos said. “Hopefully, we will progress as quickly as possible.”

The chairman of the union that represents air traffic controllers, Antero Utunen, said that negotiations are currently on hold as no understanding has been reached on several issues.

“When we left the negotiations, we agreed with the employer’s side that we wouldn’t publicise details of the talks’ contents,” Utunen said.

Finavia’s Air Navigation Services head Anne Ilola could not estimate the impact of the potential strike on passengers.

“Now we’re starting to assess possible impact,” Ilola said.

Disagreements over the collective agreement for air traffic controllers have continued since the end of February.

Sources: YLE