The Transport Workers’ Union AKT in Finland has declared a political strike in opposition to proposed amendments by the country’s government to labor legislation. The two-week political strike will affect operations at all Finnish ports. The strike is slated to last from 6 a.m. on Monday, March 11, to 6 a.m. on Monday, March 25.

In addition, work stoppages will also widely impact the Finnish industry and services.

The strike is the latest in a series of trade union actions protesting labor market reforms and proposed cuts to the social welfare system by Finland’s government. 

On March 11, Mëtsa Group announced it would temporarily shut down one of its mills later this week due to the political strike affecting Finland’s harbors and railroad system. The strike will impact industrial, logistics and electrical workers, with exports, imports and cargo transportation all potentially affected.

According to a Reuters report, a Mëtsa spokesperson said its mill in Joutseno in southern Finland would need to be temporarily idled as a result of the strike due to raw-material shortages. The strike could impact other paper suppliers such as UPM and Stora Enso.

Strikes are deemed to be a regular part of business negotation in Finland, as was noted during recent shutdowns in 2023.