Conductors of the commuter trains started a two-day strike in Helsinki Metropolitan Region early Thursday.
The Public and Welfare Sectors Trade Union JHL enforced the strike protesting against a plan to replace the national railway operator VR’s train conductors with security stewards in commuter traffic in the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne – HSL) region, said JHL in a press release on Wednesday.
The strike has begun at 00:01 a.m. on Thursday and will continue until 23:59 p.m. on Friday and it concerns all work shifts that start during this time interval, said HSL and JHL.
HSL in its press release said that the strike, however, will not affect HSL's train services and all the commuter train services will run according to schedule.
The work stoppage concerns the work duties covered by the railway sector collective agreement in commuter traffic, said JHL.
The President of JHL Håkan Ekström said that the trade union does not accept the way the employer tries to benefit from a cheaper collective agreement.
VR plans to replace the train conductors in commuter trains in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area with security stewards, whose collective agreement is cheaper for the employer.
“The number of conductors in the HSL region has been reduced every year as proposed by HSL. This reduction has resulted into poorer security and safety in commuter traffic trains. That affects both the passengers and the personnel who work with them,” Ekström said.
Now VR and HSL have agreed on “a new service model”. In the model in practice all remaining conductors are replaced with security stewards, said the JHL President.
VR has initiated cooperation negotiations that threaten the jobs of 130 out of the total of 163 commuter train conductors.
“How can terminating one group of professionals and deteriorating a good passenger experience help the company towards a better world?” Ekström said.
JHL emphasised to the need for conductors in trains.
The conductor gives advice on routes, helps to purchase tickets and ensures smooth travelling for everyone – including the elderly, people with reduced mobility and passengers who travel with children.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
