Ground Handling Strikes Affecting Finnair Flights On May 2 & 5, 2025

There are two additional strikes affecting Finnair and other airlines’ traffic at various airports in Finland on May 2 and 5, 2025.

More than 600 employees working at ground handling, airline catering, repair, and maintenance are striking for 4 hours on Friday next week (May 2), and 300 employees who handle passengers, ground handling, and cargo are striking the following Monday (May 5).

You can access Finnair here.

Finnair has not yet issued a warning to passengers scheduled to travel on these two days, as the airline is still evaluating the impact.

Passengers whose travel is disrupted will be connected by the airline. Finnair has also allowed passengers to change flights to non-strike days.

There is still a possibility that an agreement will be reached before these strikes take place.

The EC 261/2004 Air Passenger Rights legislation also applies during these strikes. The airlines are required to rebook you to your final destination as soon as possible and provide Duty to Care (accommodation and meals) in case of long delays.

Passengers whose flight is cancelled or significantly delayed can also opt for a refund, but that is their choice.

The delay compensation doesn’t apply if the striking employees are not employed by the airline.

Finnair’s EC 261/2004 Notice:

May 2^nd Strike Notice:

Preliminary Notice of Strikes on May 2^nd

The Airline Industry Union (IAU) will organize four-hour strikes across several companies on Friday, May 2nd. The strikes will primarily involve workers starting their shifts four hours later than they would normally on that day. The affected workers, approximately 600 in total, are responsible for providing ground handling and catering services for Finnair as well as its aircraft maintenance and repair services. The impact will also extend to ground handling services for other airlines.

Since the end of January, IAU has been in unsuccessful negotiations with the Service Employers’ Association (PALTA) over a new collective agreement for aviation services. A fundamental disagreement between the negotiating parties centers on whether there is still justification for a contract solution below the general labor market level.

In the chart above, the salary increases agreed upon in the sector are compared to those aligned with the general labor market level from 2019 to 2024. Due to the dual crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion, no salary increases were implemented in 2021 and 2022, resulting in a 4.3% gap behind general wage development in the sector. Finnair’s comparable operating profit turned positive during 2023.

The “general line” sought by the company in the collective agreement negotiations would lead to an even greater gap between the sector’s wages and the general labor market level in the upcoming contract period, adding 0.1 percentage points to the existing 4.3% gap each year.

IAU’s goal is for the sector’s working conditions to once again align with the general labor market level during the contract period, and for temporary savings measures to end. Should this goal be achieved, IAU would accept the permanent cost savings remaining from both the wage development gap below the general labor market level during 2021–2024, as well as the still-open gap for the new contract period.

May 5 Strike Notice:

Advance Notice of Strikes on May 5th

In addition to the previously announced strikes on Friday, May 2nd, the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has also scheduled strikes for Monday, May 5th. The strikes will involve over 300 employees responsible for Finnair’s passenger, ground handling, and cargo services. These strikes will also impact ground handling and cargo operations for other airlines.

The new strikes were officially notified today to the national mediator in accordance with the labor dispute notification law. IAU has held unsuccessful negotiations with the Service Sector Employers PALTA since the end of January regarding the renewal of the collective labor agreement for aviation services.

Conclusion

Finnair still hasn’t reached an agreement with its Pilot Union (the negotiations have been ongoing for about six months), and hundreds of flights have been cancelled as the cockpit crew refuse to work overtime or cover pilots who call in sick.

These ground handling employee wages, according to the union release, have fallen behind since the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia shock, and their goal is to get them back on track.

Let’s hope the parties can reach an agreement before these two strikes are scheduled to take place.

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