On Thursday, the Industrial Union announced political industrial action in Kilpilahti and Kokkola.
THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION will lead to a shutdown of production in the industrial areas of Kilpilahti and Kokkola.
Kilpilahti is located in Porvoo, southern Finland; Kokkola is a town and municipality in the Central Ostrobothnia region.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Thursday in Hakaniemi by Sami Ryynänen, the chief shop steward at the Finnish oil refining giant Neste, and Riku Aalto, the chairman of the Confederation of Finnish Industries.
The shutdowns, according to the union, are a protest against the government’s attacks on workers.
The strike affects, among others, Neste’s refineries in Porvoo and Naantali and several companies in the basic chemicals industry, mainly in Uusimaa and Ostrobothnia.
In total, 16 companies operate in 21 production units in the Kokkola industrial area. The area is home to Europe’s second-largest zinc plant and produces battery chemicals, among other products.
The Neste oil refinery in Kilpilahti will be completely shut down.
The decisions will affect about 7,000 employees.
“We hope that the suspension of the oil refinery will make the government understand that it cannot put the entire burden of the state’s finances on the shoulders of the workers,” Ryynänen declared in a written statement.
Chief Shop Steward Ryynänen called the shutdowns “only a warning shot,” indicating that more “industrial action” could follow. Chairman Aalto clarified: “There will be more and more strikes if the government does not engage in good-faith discussions about workers’ positions.”
The announced industrial action consists of two days of political strikes on February 1 and 2, 2024.
The Industrial Union is announcing the industrial action at this stage to allow sufficient time for a safe shutdown of production.
