Strikes Stop Finnish Trade

Finnish exports and imports were almost at a standstill last week as a strike over a wage claim by transport workers supported by stevedores and seamen went into a second day. The state labor mediation office said no new talks had been scheduled between unions and employers.

Harri Tuulensuu, director of the Federation of Finnish Master Stevedores, said municipal ports were for the most part closed, although an insignificant volume of traffic was moving in Helsinki and Hamina, due to certain special agreements.

A few industrial harbors linked to the refineries of energy group Fortum