”If we approve this proposal, we would be working under completely different terms than other companies. That is something we cannot do,” says Markus Oksa, the managing director of Barona Group.
IAU says it will reassess the situation on Tuesday.
”Finnair’s economic situation is limiting our possibilities for action. We have to see if there are other ways,” says IAU’s chair Juhani Haapasaari.
Talk of new strike premature
Haapasaari stressed that he has not brought up the possibility of another strike. On the other hand, he said he wished the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the transport industry, and the government would offer their two cents on the matter.
Haapasaari adds that that the union is concerned that Barona is in a rush to arrange layoff negotiations after a deal is made. That way, older and better paid employees would be pushed out and replaced with cheaper labour.
For this reason, IAU says it has sought protection against arbitrary dismissal.
The dispute erupted when Finnair announced suddenly a week ago that its ground handling company Northport would outsource baggage services to the human resources company Barona. About 500 workers were transferred to the new employer. The majority of them belong to IAU.
Finnair says it was forced to cancel about 90 flights last week due to the strike by baggage workers. The workers returned to the job on Friday afternoon, but threaten to walk out again on Wednesday unless remaining contract disputes are resolved.
