Finnish transport workers issue port strike warning

Finnish ports could grind to a halt in mid-February because of a workers' strike, the transport workers' union AKT warned in a statement Monday following a breakdown in collective labour talks.

The union said in a statement that if no agreement was reached on a new collective labour contract, AKT would start its industrial action at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) on February 19.

"Because the voluntary arbitration led by the state mediator did not lead to a result and negotiations ended, AKT has submitted an industrial action warning and declared an overtime ban," AKT chairman Timo Raety said in a statement.

"We hope that negotiations headed by the state mediator can now start as soon as possible," Raety added.

A strike would include some 3,100 permanent and 400 temporary stevedores who are members of the union, an AKT spokesman said.

Finnish media reported late Monday the stevedores in four Finnish port could stage a walk-off as early as Tuesday.