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The Finnish Post and Logistics Union PAU is to stage a sympathy strike on the loading and unloading of Posti’s and Transval Logistics Oy’s trucks and trailers. The sympathy strike will begin on Thursday 16 February at 00.00 and end on Tuesday 21 February at 24.00 unless AKT has reached a settlement on wage increases and work conditions in the road haulage sector before then.
During the sympathy strike, no loading and unloading of trucks and trailers will take place at the workplaces listed below – regardless of whether or not the employee is a union member or not.
Posti Oy, Posti Jakelu Oy, Posti Palvelut Oy (ECD functions) and Transval Logistics Oy locations:
Work relating to health and safety is outside the sympathy strike.
If the employer carries out loading and unloading despite the sympathy strike, the strike will be extended to handling work at other sites so as to prevent the loading and unloading of trucks and trailers.
Transport unions have a long, strong tradition of using support actions if necessary to help employees reach a settlement that satisfies the union in collective bargaining negotiations. For example, during the 2019 postal strike, AKT and other transport unions provided decisive support for PAU members. Solidarity and cooperation between the unions prevented postal workers from a major cut in pay and worse working conditions.
The sympathy strike does not apply to preliminary delivery work, mail delivery and handling or the duties of salaried employees.
The sympathy strike is legal because it concerns industrial action that does not seek to affect the provisions in PAU’s collective labour agreements.
Under section 53 of the collective labour agreement for the Communications and Logistics Sector and section 52 of the collective labour agreement for the parcel sector Posti Palvelut Oy, “Before starting a political labour action or sympathy strike, it must be reported to the National Conciliator and to the employer and employee unions at least four days in advance, if possible. The reasons for the action, its start time, and the scope of the intended industrial action are to be stated in the communication”.
PAU notified the sympathy strike to the National Conciliator and to the employer unions on Saturday 11 February.
The sympathy strike was decided by PAU’s Executive Board (8 February) and there can be no consequences for individual employees. PAU, not individual employees, is responsible for the legality of actions.
If your supervisor/manager intends to remove you from the workplace, tell them that you are available for all other work under your employment contract that is not subject to the sympathy strike, which applies to loading and unloading. If, despite this, you are removed from the workplace, report the name of your supervisor/manager, workplace and time to the shop steward or chief shop steward.
Yes, you can. As an agency worker you neither need nor should do work that is subject to the sympathy strike. As an agency worker you can join a sympathy strike if you work at a site covered by the strike or if you are asked to work through an agency at strike sites.
The sympathy strike applies to the loading and unloading of trucks and trailers at specific sites during the time mentioned. Even if you are asked to do work that is subject to the strike, you can refuse.
PAU will pay strike pay to members taking part in the sympathy strike if participating in the strike results in loss of earnings. Strike pay is €67/day and the first €16 of this is tax exempt. Under section 88 of the Income Tax Act and a decision by the Tax Administration, the amount exceeding €16 is taxed at 30%. This means you will receive net strike pay of €51.70/day.
Contact the central strike committee for more information:
Jarmo Tuominen, Collective Agreement and Organisation Expert, 040 315 4401, jarmo.tuominen@pau.fi
Juha Pöyry, Information Officer, 040 356 0567, juha.poyry@pau.fi
Jussi Saariketo, Collective Agreement Expert, 044 268 5110, jussi.saariketo@pau.fi