The Finnish Labour Court on Friday fined the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) for observing a walkout at the Helsinki Airport in December 2024, said the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL and the Service Sector Employers' Association (Palta) in separate press releases.
The court in its verdict termed the walkout as illegal and ordered the IAU and its three units to pay 67,000 euros as compensation.
IAU observed the walkout because Finnair considered terminating the employment contracts of two shop stewards, said JHL.
The reasons that Finnair gave for the planned terminations included a claim that the employees had disclosed trade secrets.
According to IAU, the documents were connected to an ongoing dispute on terms and conditions of employment.
The President of JHL, Håkan Ekström, said that the Finnish Government wants to use penalties to keep workers and trade unions on their toes when they defend their rights.
“The real objective of the amendment to the law is to prevent industrial action. The Government wants to keep workers obedient with the threat of huge costs, but we are not going to give up. We will continue to defend our members’ terms and conditions of employment with whatever means are necessary,” Ekström said.
Meanwhile, Minna Ääri, Director Labour Market of Palta said that the amount of fine was small compared to the damage caused by the walkout.
She said that the walkout stopped almost all air traffic at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on December 2, 2024 and caused significant financial damage to the companies.
Ääri, however, termed the verdict significant as it was the first decision by the labour court after amendment to the Act.
- IAU
- Fined
- Walkout
- Helsinki Airport
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
