The strikes in Finnish ports are still ongoing. At the latest round of mediation, which ended yesterday evening, the Finnish Transport Workers' Union (AKT) and the port operators were unable to reach a settlement. The National Conciliator's Office announced the end of the negotiation day on Twitter, adding that the conditions for a settlement proposal were not yet in place.
The industrial action has been going on for almost two weeks. On 15 February, workers in the stevedoring sector stopped work at Finnish ports at 6:00 am. AKT intends to continue the strike until a solution is found.
The stevedores' strike has paralysed work in the vast majority of Finnish ports, bringing a large part of the country's exports and imports to a standstill. This is also impacting trade with pulp, paper and board and the first effects on the country's paper and board production can meanwhile be seen. For Finland, the sea route is indispensable and the only way at the moment to get access to the markets. The long eastern border with Russia has been largely closed since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. According to Finnish media reports, around 90 per cent of Finnish exports go through the ports. If the strike lasts for a month, costs could amount to more than €1bn, they add.
