The strike has halted production at around 40 firms, many of them major exporters, including ABB, Kone, Rautaruukki, Metso and Wartsilä.
Both sides in the dispute over pay and conditions rejected the mediation proposal put forward by National Conciliator Esa Lonka on Thursday evening.The council of the Finnish Metalworkers’ Union rejected the proposal of National Conciliator Esa Lonka by a clear majority. Trade Union Pro and the employers’ representative, the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, were also dissatisfied with the mediation deal.
Both sides in the talks say that the mediation proposal’s salary provisions were the main sticking point. The employers’ side felt that the deal was too expensive, while trade unions found that the wage structure was not acceptable.
New talks ahead
The labour dispute is now set to return to the negotiating table. Lonka is to decide when and how the talks will continue, though he has yet to provide a timeframe.