Sähköliitto, which represents the interest of electricity workers, has announced that they will be joining in a strike action that is scheduled to take place from Wednesday through to Friday next week. The specific dates for this industrial action are the 14th to the 16th of February.
The planned strike action extends to the nuclear power plants located in Olkiluoto and Loviisa, as well as various hydropower plants. This information was disseminated via a press release by the union. The combined power capacity of these power plants is estimated to be around 6,000 megawatts.
The schedule for the work stoppages is such that on Wednesday, the strike will take place at the Loviisa nuclear power plant. On Thursday, the strike will move to Olkiluoto, and finally, on Friday, the hydropower plants will take their turn. The Electrical allies who are responsible for the production, service, and maintenance tasks at these power plants are the ones who work in electricity production.
Up until now, Sähköliitto has largely kept electricity production separate from labor struggles. The press release reveals that the union’s wish was for the government to start discussions on labor market reforms with the wage earners.
According to Sauli Väntin, the Chairman of the Swedish Electrical Union, the government has positioned itself as a labor market party through its working life policy, and it should therefore act accordingly.
Väntti, in the press release, pointed out that such extensive industrial action is not aimed at these companies or the Finnish people, despite the fact that it will inevitably cause some harm. He stated, “Such heavy industrial action is not directed against these companies or Finns, even though it will inevitably cause harm.”
Energiateollisuus ry has communicated its position on the strikes, labeling them as irresponsible and a threat to energy sufficiency.
The Energy Industry, in its press release, commented that the impacts on prices due to the strike are unpredictable and will be dependent on a variety of factors including wind, frost, consumption, and other production aspects.
