IAU THREATENS ILLEGAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION

The Union of Finnish Air Transport Workers, IAU, threatens Finnair with illegal industrial action starting 1 November 2000. The threat is connected with the demands made by IAU to Finnair, concerning personnel policy, the development of the company and workers' participation in decision-making.

The closing down of the Savonlinna factory is also a source of disagreement. In public, IAU has justified the illegal industrial action by shortcomings in flight safety. Finnair finds it unfortunate and an insult to the professional skills and the attitude of all our employees that one trade union should abuse flight safety in this way to promote their own interests.

It goes without saying that Finnair would never under any circumstances compromise flight safety. Safety is the starting point, the corner stone and the basic value on which all our operations are based.

Finnair has complete faith in that all our various employee groups will also in the future under all circumstances do their utmost to ensure safe air traffic. The allegations of shortcomings in flight safety have been made by IAU members who are not in Finnair's employment.

In case the industrial action starts, Finnair will try to operate at least part of their flights. Further information about the possible strike will be communicated as soon as more details about the action are known.