THE FINNISH Transport Workers' Union (AKT) on Tuesday rejected a proposal to settle its dispute over the terms and conditions of employment for stevedores, terminal workers and various road transport professionals.

 

The failure to find an agreement means stevedores and terminal workers commenced their widespread strike at 6am at all ports where stevedores are covered by the collective bargaining agreement of AKT.

The largest ports affected by the strike are Hamina-Kotka, Helsinki, Hanko, Kokkola, Naantali, Pori, Oulu, Rauma, Turku and Uusikaupunki. With 90 per cent of Finnish goods exports handled at ports, the strike could have serious repercussions for the foreign trade of Finland.

Strikes in the trucking, tanker and oil product segments of road transport began at midnight.