(Source: LA Times & Newsroom Finland)

Finnish railway workers say they will halt all passenger and cargo traffic on Monday to protest the state-owned railway company’s personnel policies and layoffs.

Vesa Mauriala, chairman of the union, said he hoped the 24-hour walkout would lead to a debate on the hardening of values in society in general.  According to Mr Mauriala, the two main railway unions have been angered by the state’s ownership policy in the wholly government-owned Finnish Railways (VR).

“The state is simply demanding too much from VR,” Mr Mauriala said.

According to the union VR has previously been an example of good personnel policy and there have been very few layoffs and strikes. However, recently Finnish Railways announced it would make 1,500 employees at VR Cargo temporarily redundant.

VR assured customers on Friday that it would refund all tickets purchased for Monday. The strike is estimated to result in millions of euros in losses.

VR employs about 12,600 workers. Recently, it announced 1,500 job cuts to save costs.