01 Feb 2018 | 10:12 PM UTC
Finland: Transport strike and protest in Helsinki February 2
Transport strike planned for Helsinki area Feb. 2; related protest also scheduled in Senate Square
Event
According to the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HRT), public transportation in the capital region will be severely disrupted due to a Finnish Transport Workers' Union (AKT) strike on Friday, February 2. Metro and tram service will not run on Friday, and will resume on the morning of Saturday, February 3. Most bus service will be discontinued from 03:00 until 18:00 (local time) on Friday; details regarding which lines will run in the evening have not yet been released. However, commuter trains as well as the Suomenlinna ferry will continue to run uninterrupted.
In a related event, the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) will hold a protest against unemployment benefit reforms on February 2 from 11:00 to 13:00 in Senate Square.
Context
The AKT and SAK are demanding the government reverse recent entitlement reforms, including a policy that will diminish job seekers' unemployment benefits if certain criteria are not met.
Advice
Individuals in Helsinki are advised to avoid all protests, seek alternative means of transportation, and allow for extra time to reach their destinations for the duration of the strike. For more information, see HRT's website.
