The one-day-long strike on Tuesday will affect many Helsinki services. Tram and metro routes will not run, although some bus routes will be added to replace them. Buses 51 and 90 will not run and several changes are expected to bus schedules, so be sure to check the Helsinki Regional Transport’s web pages at hsl.fi for timetables.
Warm food will not be served on Tuesday in Helsinki’s schools and day care centres, but the city is expected to provide children with a cold lunch consisting of a sandwich, fruit, yoghurt and juice.
Most of the city’s sports centres, including all of its swimming halls, and some of Helsinki’s 65 playgrounds will also closed for the day. Six city libraries will also closed and mobile libraries will not be operating.
City Council undecided
The Helsinki City Council was scheduled to discuss transferring the services provided by the public contractor Palmia into private hands on Monday, a move Palmia employees oppose. The municipal enterprise Palmia currently handles the city’s real estate, catering, cleaning, and security services, as well as some telephone and well-being services.
Helsinki’s Green League party representatives have gone on record in support of the partial privatisation of Palmia, but claim that some functions could not and should not be made private. Social Democrats on the council oppose the corporatisation plans.
JHL spearheads a labour strike in protest
The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare sectors JHL is organising the day-long work stoppage that will entail 9,000 Helsinki city workers on Tuesday.
The union assures city residents that all work directly connected to people’s health and security will not be affected by the industrial action and will function normally.
JHL protests against the corporatisation of Palmia, saying the move would considerably lower the salaries of its employees, as existing collective agreements would be diluted.
“Talks have led us to believe that if the issue was tabled, it would mean we are not proceeding towards the desired outcome. It is simply putting off the decision,” says JHL Helsinki District Chair Merja Ruotsalainen.
