The Federation of Finnish Financial Services (FFI), the group representing financial sector employers in Finland, is organizing a lockout at all member banks against union employees in response to a planned strike by financial services workers.
Trade Union Pro (PRO) and the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff (YTN), two unions representing approximately 3,000 workers in the financial sector, announced on November 8 plans for a strike to begin November 23 at 6 a.m. through November 30 at midnight. The trade unions also imposed an overtime and traveling ban on banks, which is already in force, FFI said in a statement.
The collective agreement for the workers terminated October 31. The dispute is over a wage increase.
In response to the planned strike, the 310 FFI member banks will lock out employees who are members of the two unions, as well as members of Nordea Union Finland (Nousu), beginning November 25, unless collective bargaining agreements are resolved beforehand. Bank branches are expected to be closed, and electronic services could face delays or disruptions, according to FFI.
Agent banks such as Danske Banke, Nordea, Pohjola Bank, SEB and Svenska Handelsbanken are all members of FFI, although it is not immediately known how the lockout will affect the securities services operations of these institutions.
We are very disappointed that PRO and YTN decided to give strike notice. Industrial action would severely weaken banks ability to operate, says Pasi Kmri, head of FFIs Labour Market Executive Committee. In this situation, we would not be able to guarantee secure banking under all circumstances. The employers therefore had no choice but to declare a lockout.
PRO and YTN have instigated a strike by the IT workers in its ranks as well, which reignited in recent days after it was believed to have been quashed earlier this week.
Last month, 40,000 metal workers from around 40 companies in Finland went on a four-day strike, also over wages.
(CG)