Wednesday's round of talks chaired by National Concilliator Esa Lonka failed to break the deadlock between the two sides. Further talks will be held on Thursday.
The Chairman of the AKT Transport Workers' Union, Timo Räty remains pessimistic over a deal saying little progress had been made.
Severance pay terms remain the main sticking point. The CEO of the Finnish Port Operators Association, Juha Mutru also expressed pessimism over the talks. Employers refuse to budge on the issue of severance pay fearing similar demands later by other employee groups.
Economists Express Concern
Economists fear the continuing strike by stevedores could reverse the cautious recovery of the Finnish economy. Some say if the dispute becomes prolonged, the economy could even be permanently harmed.
In a YLE interview, Chief Economist Jari Järvinen of the Tapiola group says the strike has hit at a particular bad moment and risks starting a further downward turn for the country's economic prospects.
The strike has been particularly devastating for the forest industry. Unable to export its goods, forest giant UPM has been forced to shut down most of its paper machines. Sawmills are also feeling the pinch; their recent recovery is directly threatened by the strike. The technology sector has also forecast a drop in production.
Forest industry employees could face empty pay packets from Thursday as a consequence of the strike. Some 700 employees at UPM's mill in Rauma will be among the first affected.