On Wednesday National Conciliator Minna Helle decreed that a walkout scheduled to begin this weekend had to be postponed for a couple of weeks to allow more time for contract talks.
Workers at the state-owned Arctia Shipping had planned to go on strike on Sunday, March 1st. Their contract runs out at the end of the month. The sailors' union says Helle made the wrong decision based on a lack of experience.
"I think the national conciliator made a tactical mistake because of her inexperience," union boss Simo Zitting told Yle. "Instead of trying to reach an agreement, she decided to put off the strike."
Helle, who took office last month, is the first woman to ever hold the state labour conciliator’s job.
Owners await invitation
The ship operators’ association, meanwhile, told Yle on Thursday that it is ready to resume contract negotiations soon.
"We on the employer’s side hope that the process can continue as soon as possible, within the next few days," said David Lindström, head of the employers’ association and senior vice president of Arctia Shipping. "Of course we will wait for and follow an invitation from the labour mediator."
