Delays in Finland as strike begins
Mail delivery has been delayed throughout Finland due to striking action by Itella sorting and delivery staff. The delays concern first class letters, Express letters, Maxi letters, some magazines, newspapers, free sheets and 2nd class deliveries including advertisements.
Itella management slammed the decision to strike. A spokesman said: “The employer finds the strikes to be illegal since no advance notice of this action has been given.”
Because of the mail sorting hold-up, some shipments will be delivered to the recipients with a one-day delay, and some only at the beginning of next week.
Delays will be caused by industrial action at the Helsinki post centre and the Kuopio city centre delivery.
In addition to the strikes, delays have also been caused by an overtime and extra work prohibition declared by the Finnish Post and Logistics Union (PAU). The prohibition does not apply to early-morning paper delivery, but papers delivered along with daily mail may be delayed.
Posti shops and postal agency shops will provide services as usual.
The industrial action is based on the collective labour agreement for the communication and logistics sector, which expired on 15 October. The aim of the ongoing collective labour agreement negotiations is to reach a new agreement as soon as possible, the company said.