Progress Reported in Airport Dispute; More Flights Cancelled

The Finnish Aviation Union and the staff services company Barona reported progress on Thursday evening in the dispute over luggage handling at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. However, Finnair is expected to cancel as many as 13 flights on Friday as the two sides continue to bargain.

On Thursday, the two sides said that nearly all of their disagreements had been ironed out. The remaining disagreement was over a dismissal clause in the contracts of employees who were suddenly transferred from Finnair to Barona on Monday. The latter insists they will be guaranteed the same rights and benefits as when they worked for Finnair. However employees are sceptical, fearing for their job security.
Meanwhile the backlog of unprocessed baggage at the airport has risen to around 10,000 pieces.
Since late Wednesday, some have been moved to a warehouse two kilometres from Finnair's Terminal 2. From there, they are to be delivered individually to their owners. Finnair estimates that it will take several days after the walkout ends before the suitcases are all returned.
Operations at Terminal 1 are reported to be normal. This terminal is used by Blue1, SAS, Lufthansa and other airlines.
The national air carrier -- which insists it is not a party to the dispute -- has been losing nearly five million euros a day due to cancelled flights and other problems.
As the walkout by baggage handlers continued into its fourth day on Thursday, the financially-strapped Finnair axed more than 20 flights, for a total of at least 80 this week.
Airport Walkout Day Four; 20 Flights Cancelled Thursday